Cohousing-L Mailing List: The problem with background checks

[Emily Pitt (epitt]

One major problem with the sex offender registry is that gay men have, in some 
states, been arrested for consensual activities that were outlawed by sodomy 
statutes and those individuals were required to register on registries along 
with pedophiles and rapists. Meanwhile, many civil issues don't ever end up on 
criminal records checks, such as whether a partner has ever taken out a 
restraining order against the individual (which obviously varies state to 
state). So you end up screening out individuals who could make wonderful 
contributions to communities (for example a gay man whose only "crime" is 
consensual activity with a loving partner), while screening in a batterer who 
is outwardly charming and friendly but who terrorizes a partner behind closed 
doors. 

Also, background checks might tell you about a recovering addict's past history 
of petty thefts and drug busts, but not about his five years of strong 
recovery, community service, and good parenting.

There is no way to guarantee anyone's safety in cohousing or in any other 
community. But personally I think that much more can be gleaned by meeting and 
getting to know a potential community member, than can be told by looking at 
background checks which in reality tell you very little. Requiring a new 
potential member to join as an associate member, come to meetings and get to 
know the community is a much more effective way to provide for the safety of a 
community than doing background checks. But neither one will give you 100% 
security. 


Emily Pitt
Jamaica Plain Cohousing



-------Original Message-------
From: Juva DuBoise <juva [at] comcast.net>
Sent: 08/26/03 08:18 AM
To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
Subject: Re: [C-L]_Background check

> 
> 
We, CoHo in Corvallis, Oregon are doing background checks and calling the
sex offender list for every application.  Doesn't mean that we would
reject
someone because what was found but would cover it during our "clearness
committee" where we see if we are a match and concerns (both ways) are
discussed.  So far nothing has showed up that need to be figured out.
Juva

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