** FIRST, LET'S LOOK AT OUR ARREST RATES IN AMERICA **
According to arrest data of 2004 by FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting:
- The number of arrests in the U.S. for all criminal offenses (except traffic violations) was APPROXIMATELY 14 MILLION. (The U.S. population was approximately 291 million) - THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 5% OF OUR POPULATION EVERY YEAR! YES, 5% OF OUR POPULATION IS ARRESTED EVERY YEAR!! Imagine how many people in the entire country have been arrested in the past 40 years - the total number must astounding.
- 70.8 percent of arrestees were white, 26.8 percent were black, and 2.4 percent were of other races (American Indian or Alaskan Native and Asian or Pacific Islander).
- Whites were most commonly arrested for driving under the influence (893,212 arrests) and drug abuse violations (821,047 arrests). Blacks were most frequently arrested for drug abuse violations (406,890 arrests) and simple assaults (288,286 arrests). (See Table 43.)
** NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE **
Politicians Pressed to Revive Anemic Economy: The unemployment rate has jumped to a five-year high of 6.1 percent - 84,000 jobs were lost in August. The numbers released by the Labor Department on Friday (9/5/08) were worse than economists anticipated. "I suspect that hitting over 6 percent (unemployment) will end this silly discussion of whether we are in a recession or not," said Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute, a research group based in Washington. "It doesn't matter whether we are technically 'in a recession,' according to someone's definition, when we see hours of work being cut, unemployment rising like this and jobs disappearing every month."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said Congress will take up a second economic stimulus bill this month that is likely to include money for infrastructure projects, aid to states, energy assistance for the poor, an increase in food stamps and an extension of jobless benefits. "With the unemployment rate at a five-year high, it is clear that we must take immediate action to strengthen our economy," Pelosi said Friday. Congress reconvenes Monday to consider the stimulus package and a major energy bill.
** WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAVING AN ARREST RECORD AND THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE **
One doesn't need to worry about his arrest record affecting his ability to get a job if jobs simply are not available; however, the American public must understand that a simple arrest, EVEN IF DISMISSED, remains on your record (unless it is expunged) and will most-likely be revealed on a prospective employer's background check. So, even if a job is available, many people will lose their opportunity for employment simply because a background check reveals an arrest. Applying for a 12 jobs at a "job fair" can give many a false hope of employment if they cannot pass the final step of the job offer: passing the background check.
Don't fall into this trap: "Well, the case was dismissed so it doesn't matter." WRONG! Think of it this way: Would you want to hire a cleaning lady who was arrested for retail theft, even if the case was dismissed? Or would you want your daughter dating a man who was arrested for domestic battery, even if the case was dismissed? Granted, many people who have had a run-in with the law are not bad people and were simply wrongly accused, but most prospective employers don't want to take a risk on the person who has the ,"What happened was..." story. The simple record of arrest, no matter the outcome, can send prospective employers running as far away from you as possible.
Or this one: "It was so long ago; I'm sure it fell off of my record." WRONG! Once you are arrested, your fingerprints go into a database at the State Police & FBI. The arresting police keep your prints on file. They don't throw away the records just because the case was thrown out or a certain number of years have passed by. Think of it this way: You go to the Doctor's office because you think you broke your ankle. He x-ray's your foot and finds no injury. Just because he sends you home, that doesn't mean he erased the record of your visit to his office.
** CONCLUSION **
I feel comfortable assuming that the majority of Americans with arrest records, that 14 million per year, do not realize that their run-in with the law can affect their ability to get a job. Can you imagine how many people have arrest records in this country?!? During this time of lay-offs and firings due to a failing economy, I suggest you take a proactive approach in cleaning your record, if you've ever been arrested. Don't get stuck in a position where you've lost a job, you must apply for a new job, and then your arrest record prevents you from getting the job. (Keep in mind the expungement process in IL can take up to a year!) Don't give employers another excuse not to hire you...make sure your record is squeaky clean as you prepare for the possibility of a background check!
If you have an arrest record in Illinois, call attorney/lawyer Tamara Holder at 312-981-1414. Don't let your past criminal record define your future! Expunge, seal or seek a pardon today!
www.xpunged.com and www.tamaraholder.com
Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:00AM