Snider responds to Sheriff’s stance on convicted felon hiring ban

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David Snider is the District 3 representative and chairman of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. This is his response to Sheriff Paul Babeu’s recent message regarding barring convicted felons from county employment (see Babeu’s message):

Sometimes what seems to make sense intellectually cannot be done because laws, policies or procedures stand in the way. Other times, when you start thinking of the consequences of this supposed “good idea,” you find that there are unintended consequences. This is exactly the case with the recent proposal by Sheriff Babeu to ban the hiring of individuals with felony convictions.

State law prohibits such a ban, but it gives employers discretion to establish policies to screen out candidates whose past transgression may relate to the job they are seeking. For example, an employer can decide that a person accused of theft and money laundering might not make the best choice for a job as a bank teller. This makes sense. Categorically, denying someone gainful employment simply on the basis of a conviction does not.

It is not my position that we should actively recruit people with troubled pasts or felony convictions. That would be absurd. However, it is equally disturbing to my mind that we deny employment to someone who has served time, paid their debt to society, changed their behavior and now desires a second chance. Each situation must be weighed based on the unique circumstances of that individual and the job they are seeking to fill.

History is replete with examples of people who have risen above their pasts, triumphed over adversity and turned themselves into model citizens. There are also supposed “pillars of the community” like the mayors and rabbis in New York and New Jersey who were brokering in the illegal sale of human organs before they were exposed in a massive corruption scandal.

Have we had scandals and corruption in Pinal County? Yes. We are dealing with our past, moving forward and pledging to deal responsibly with problems that occur. Do I wish certain things never happened? Absolutely. But we are not going to hide from them. We are talking about these situations when they arise, stating the facts and pressing on with the business of the people. Hopefully, by taking swift and decisive action to right a wrong, we will discourage such actions in the future.

We regularly review our hiring policies to ensure consistency with state and federal laws. Right now, Arizona Revised Statutes 13-904.E prohibits us from doing as the Sheriff wishes but gives latitude to establish hiring criteria, screening policies and background checks. We will do what is necessary and appropriate to protect the public’s trust in Pinal County.

A recent Arizona Republic article stated that some 650,000 people are “released from prison each year nationwide, helping them get jobs can reduce the chances that they will be jailed again or need welfare.” The article suggests that providing employment to former felons is “one of the best ways to reduce violent crime because it erases the reason behind many offenses.”

What makes our workplace different from others is that we are providing vital services that are paid for by people like you who read this today. Be assured that there are many wonderful, hard-working, dedicated employees working on your behalf. You have my pledge that I will continue to work to protect and preserve the rights of others while ensuring a safe, crime-free work environment.

If you have questions or comments, contact Snider’s office at 520-866-7401.

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