Proceeds benefit the Kericho, Kenya Widows Group, Kenya, East Africa
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Nevertheless Outreach Ministry. Citywide Women's Conference. May 11-12, 2012
www.neverthelessoutreachministry.org
Proceeds benefit the Kericho, Kenya Widows Group, Kenya, East Africa
Proceeds benefit the Kericho, Kenya Widows Group, Kenya, East Africa
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Background Checks, Security Clearances.
http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/13/11166181-shoddy-background-check-could-cost-you-a-job?lite\
Shoddy background check could cost you a job
Apply
for a job and there's a good chance that potential employer will do a
background check on you. Most U.S. employers (about 70 percent) conduct
criminal background checks for all potential employees.
According to a new report from the National Consumer Law Center, the information provided by background screening companies is often wrong in some way.
"These reports really should be accurate. Unfortunately, too often, what we found is, they're not,” says Persis Yu, an NCLC staff attorney who worked on the “Broken Records”report.
Take the case of Samuel M. Jackson of Illinois, profiled in the report. Jackson was allegedly denied a job because of an inaccurate background check that said he was convicted of rape in 1987 – when he was just 4 years old. The conviction belonged to 58-year-old Samuel L. Jackson of Virginia, who was in prison at the time the background check was requested.
Virtually anyone with a computer and Internet service can go into the business of background screening. There is very little, if any, oversight.
“It’s really the Wild West out there,” Persis says. “They're not required to be licensed. They're not required to be registered. And yet they're generating billions of dollars in revenue with very little accountability."
The head of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) says the NCLC report makes some very broad statements that are not accurate. In an email statement to msnbc.com, Theresa Preg says background screening through Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA), such as those that are members of NAPBS have “a very, very low error rate.”
Preg says members of her organization are highly regulated at the state and federal level. She warns employers not to use "free" criminal record searches offered via the Internet because they have no updating requirement and therefore can have inaccurate information.
“The member companies of NAPBS help put millions of people to work, including ex-offenders,” she writes. “We also help consumers correct misinformation that may be contained on them at the actual courts or law enforcement agencies, as well as any incorrect criminal history information that may have been contained in a consumer report.
In preparing its report, NCLC contacted attorneys and community groups that work with people who are hurt by faulty background checks. They say these reports routinely mismatch people. This can be devastating when a person with no criminal background is confused with someone who has a criminal history. Such mix-ups are more likely if you have a common name.
(Read: More background check horror stories)
“People are being denied employment because these companies are returning reports about the wrong person,” Persis says.
Background reports also commonly:
“Many of these companies don't have very clear dispute processes,” Persis says. “Depending on the state and how the company got their records, it can take weeks or a month or more even to actually get the information corrected. By that time, a lot of times, the job is gone.”
The National Consumer Law Center wants the federal government to clean up the marketplace by creating rules that would ensure complete and accurate information. NCLC believes data providers should be registered, required to update their records each year and prohibited from making matches based solely on a person’s name.
According to a new report from the National Consumer Law Center, the information provided by background screening companies is often wrong in some way.
"These reports really should be accurate. Unfortunately, too often, what we found is, they're not,” says Persis Yu, an NCLC staff attorney who worked on the “Broken Records”report.
Take the case of Samuel M. Jackson of Illinois, profiled in the report. Jackson was allegedly denied a job because of an inaccurate background check that said he was convicted of rape in 1987 – when he was just 4 years old. The conviction belonged to 58-year-old Samuel L. Jackson of Virginia, who was in prison at the time the background check was requested.
Virtually anyone with a computer and Internet service can go into the business of background screening. There is very little, if any, oversight.
“It’s really the Wild West out there,” Persis says. “They're not required to be licensed. They're not required to be registered. And yet they're generating billions of dollars in revenue with very little accountability."
The head of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) says the NCLC report makes some very broad statements that are not accurate. In an email statement to msnbc.com, Theresa Preg says background screening through Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRA), such as those that are members of NAPBS have “a very, very low error rate.”
Preg says members of her organization are highly regulated at the state and federal level. She warns employers not to use "free" criminal record searches offered via the Internet because they have no updating requirement and therefore can have inaccurate information.
“The member companies of NAPBS help put millions of people to work, including ex-offenders,” she writes. “We also help consumers correct misinformation that may be contained on them at the actual courts or law enforcement agencies, as well as any incorrect criminal history information that may have been contained in a consumer report.
In preparing its report, NCLC contacted attorneys and community groups that work with people who are hurt by faulty background checks. They say these reports routinely mismatch people. This can be devastating when a person with no criminal background is confused with someone who has a criminal history. Such mix-ups are more likely if you have a common name.
(Read: More background check horror stories)
“People are being denied employment because these companies are returning reports about the wrong person,” Persis says.
Background reports also commonly:
- Omit crucial information about a case. For example: A person is arrested, but then found innocent.
- Reveal sealed or expunged information, such as a juvenile offense.
- Provide misleading information, such as a single charge listed multiple times.
- Misclassify offenses, such as reporting a misdemeanor as a felony.
“Many of these companies don't have very clear dispute processes,” Persis says. “Depending on the state and how the company got their records, it can take weeks or a month or more even to actually get the information corrected. By that time, a lot of times, the job is gone.”
The National Consumer Law Center wants the federal government to clean up the marketplace by creating rules that would ensure complete and accurate information. NCLC believes data providers should be registered, required to update their records each year and prohibited from making matches based solely on a person’s name.
Lake Arbor Jazz Festival. Sat. July 14th, Noon - 9:00 PM
Saturday, July 14, 2012, 12 noon - 9:00 pm
- Make plans now to attend the 2012 Lake Arbor Jazz Festival! Now in its third year, we're making it bigger and better than ever! Don't miss this year's festival! It's going to be another wonderful day of great music, friends, family and fun!
- Join us for a day and evening of contemporary and traditional jazz on the grounds of the Lake Arbor Community Center in beautiful Mitchellville, MD!
- In partnership with M-NCPPC and the Prince Georges Cultural Arts Foundation, this event will feature some of Washington, DC's finest jazz and R&B groups.
- Enjoy delicious food from a variety of food vendors, and arts and crafts merchandise from an array of vendors offering jewelry, clothing, books and more!
- Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, family and friends for a wonderful day and evening of jazz!
This is a FREE event! You don't want to miss it!
SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2012, 2:00 - 9:00 PM
(Gates open at 1:00 pm)
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Gates/Vendor Marketplace Opens: 1:00 pm
Show Times: 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Admission: Free to the Public
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Event is "Rain" or "Shine"
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Location: Grounds of the Lake Arbor Community Center
10100 Lake Arbor Way
Mitchellville, MD 20721
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About the Festival
The Lake Arbor Jazz Festival (LAJF) is a community music event showcasing top flight local and regional jazz and R&B musicians from the greater Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. This event brings together a diverse audience of jazz music lovers, young and old, for a one-of-a-kind event in a neighborhood community environment.
Enjoy delicious food from a variety of food vendors and arts and crafts merchandise from an array of vendors offering jewelry, clothing, book and more!
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, family and friends for a wonderful day and evening of jazz!
The Lake Arbor Jazz Festival is an event of the Prince Georges Cultural Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
(Free parking on-site; free shuttle service for off-site parking)
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http://www.lakearborjazz.com/index.htm