3 ms·
The greater levels of drug crime/drug crime prosecution in minority communities, leaving a documented criminal history involving drugs, is potentially a systema
by rdl 13y ago
The greater levels of drug crime/drug crime prosecution in minority communities, leaving a documented criminal history involving drugs, is potentially a systematic form of discrimination against minorities in the hiring process.
(You can get a DOD clearance while admitting to having used drugs, although it seriously complicates a law enforcement clearance unless it was very long ago. It can't be ongoing. Having gotten arrested for it makes it a whole lot worse, though, form what I've seen of the adjudication reports from DISCO, though. White people generally do not get arrested for small amounts of drugs; black people do.)
- mpyne 13y agoYes, that's a very good point, though having briefly worked HR for civil service I'd say the diversity "upcheck" would be more beneficial. It doesn't erase the systemic discriminatory factor from the difference in criminal records for the same offense, but it does try to address it in a systemic form. Of course, diversity initiatives simply covers hiring, not clearance adjudication. But there have certainly been many other areas of DoD where people with known criminal histories (to include felons) have made it to positions of responsibility, often to the amazement of the public. E.g. childcare workers at DoD bases, and even the civilian security forces at a grouping of Navy bases. Even diversity planning has to bow to "bona fide occupational qualification" though. If the position description requires you to have a record free of things like organized criminal activity, then diversity planning can't help you (though it can make it that much easier for minority groups with no such criminal record to make it in).