Criminal history should not be barrier

This state continues to amaze me. For example, about six months ago I was hired on with a well-known security agency after an extensive background check for a part-time unarmed position. In fact, I worked with them for about a month and a half as I waited for the state to send me their state ID that is required for all private security guards. Naturally, the state denied it from my crime that happened over 30 years ago. The denial has been appealed four times with no answers on any of the appeals.

I am disabled and instead of sitting around and living off my disability checks I wish to work part-time. I am not the one who just sits around, for I have done, and still do, a lot of volunteer work for my community - notably 3,000 hours volunteering for the police department without any problems working there. Currently, I'm volunteering at a local kitchen/food pantry for low income and homeless. I cannot see how legally a company that you apply at can only go back seven years on criminal background checks and yet the state can go back as far as they wish. My criminal history has just one hit on it from 30 years ago. State wants all offenders to be productive members of society and yet put up certain barriers.

Jeff Stevens

Cedar Rapids