John Curley


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John Curley argues a proposal prohibiting criminal background checks for prospective new hires before an interview is bad for Seattle businesses. (AP Photo/file)

John Curley: Delayed criminal background check plan bad for business

BY Josh Kerns  on September 7, 2012 @ 7:46 am (Updated: 11:15 am - 10/3/12 )

Business owners in Seattle could soon be prohibited from running criminal background checks on prospective new hires before giving them an interview.

It's the brainchild of Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell, who wants to give people with criminal pasts a better shot at getting a job, KOMO News reports.

"There are many reasons why people recommit, and recidivism is so high because they can't get access to jobs," Harrell said.

Harrell's proposal would prevent most employers from viewing a criminal background until much later in the hiring process.

"On the surface it seems to be a good idea," said KIRO's John Curley in response to the proposal. But Curley is vehemently opposed to the idea.

"It's the government coming in and telling the private business how to run the business," says Curley.

KOMO reports a number of local businesses support the proposal.

"I've interviewed, I've hired, I've worked with people with past criminal histories," said Greg Loyd, who manages Zeek's Pizza.

"If the guy that owns Zeek's Pizza thinks it's a good idea, then he can do it," argued Curley in opposition.

Curley questioned whether Harrell would apply the same standards to city jobs.

"I bet you dollars to donuts when you apply for a job for the city, they run all that crap on you," he said about criminal background checks.

The rules would exempt businesses where employees work around vulnerable people or senior citizens, and there would be exceptions for public safety issues, KOMO reports.

"What we're saying is let's look at the person. Let's look at the human being, and then we make wise employment decisions from there," Harrell said.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (12)


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  • mpblue wrote...
    Go figure
    September 7, 2012 8:45 am
    It involves a lawyer who went into politics.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    This is what comes
    September 7, 2012 8:46 am
    of electing morons to office. (see national).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ElenaT wrote...
    Totally fair
    September 7, 2012 8:59 am
    People who are applying for jobs send out tons of applications, and criminal background checks are very revealing. Even with nothing drastic on your record, that lets hundreds of HR people and their peons look at your personal stuff. A lot of companies (the classier ones) will tell you that they will only run a criminal history check if a position is offered, so just letting someone get to the interview phase first doesn't seem like that big of a deal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    WHAT???????
    September 7, 2012 11:43 am
    Seriously, background checks cost money. Businesses do not run them willy nilly. However, the important part of this story is that a city government is telling business how to hire employees. What if I'm a business owner with several female employees - the city is going to try and tell me I can't check and see if an applicant is a rapist? Liberal, go figure.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Bruce Harrell is a self absorbed, knee jerk reacting, windbag....
    September 7, 2012 9:06 am
    he's also a typical progressive liberal, who puts the least deserving of society first. WAKE UP AMERICA!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Elana T
    September 7, 2012 9:15 am
    ---so just letting someone get to the interview phase first doesn't seem like that big of a deal.--- But having the Government FORCE you to do it is a big deal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bos wrote...
    Lawsuit City
    September 7, 2012 10:13 am
    Felon gets pizza delivery job. On a delivery he rapes the customer. Customer sues pizza business. Where's the "fairness" to the business owner?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    I'd like to see the city/state stop requiring college degrees for 99% of their positions before interviewing too
    September 7, 2012 10:50 am
    On the same exact premise.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Vlastimil wrote...
    Bruce Harrell: ignorant, arrogant, and dangerous
    September 7, 2012 11:03 am
    This idea is just as stupid as hate crime laws.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Hey, i've got an idea!
    September 7, 2012 11:44 am
    Think of the city as like a union hall. Whenever a business needs an employee the business would be required to send in a request to the city's "employment" office. Then, after a short period of time the city would assign an employee to said business based on sex, color and level of gayness. of course there would be a small fee associated with this service.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Bruce Harrell is a freaking idiot
    September 7, 2012 1:16 pm
    Plain and simple.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }