The other side of the coin is that a manager of a company that allows an ex-convict to work in sensible areas can and will be held accountable if something goes

The other side of the coin is that a manager of a company that allows an ex-convict to work in sensible areas can and will be held accountable if something goes wrong. If you were a person that has put 20+ years of hard work into your career at some company would you be willing to risk it all (and by extension the life you built for your family) to put someone who as been convicted for hacking or fraud in the past in a position where he/she could cause considerable damage? I think this can only be solved by laws that forbid employers to use or acquire this data. In that case no one could touch you for giving someone that chance. The question is if the outcome of such a law would be positive and where there should be exceptions to it. (for example convicted hackers being employed by banks)