TSA forces airport to hire convicted felon

[jonjuan]

http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/04/tsa-forces-richmond-airport-to-issue-access-badge-to-convicted-f/

TSA forces Richmond airport to issue access badge to convicted felon
by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Feb 4th 2010 at 5:00PM

In today's episode of "what did the TSA do this time?", the agency is under fire for not only hiring a convicted felon, but demanding that his assigned airport issue him an access badge.

The unidentified TSA employee was hired by the agency after passing their background checks - but when he applied for his airport badge, Richmond airport turned him down, citing a conviction for robbery when he was 18.

When the airport denied the badge application, the TSA demanded that they reconsider, citing "unspecified consequences" if they refused. To me, this sounds an awful lot like blackmail.

The employee had not mentioned the conviction on his TSA application, and it doesn't look like it it would have mattered, because the TSA claims he actually committed the crime when he was 17, and that they don't really care about a conviction at that age.

The airport access badge is required to obtain access to the "sterile" area of the airport, including the baggage sorting areas and airline parking spots. Of course, the job of a TSA agent also includes passenger and luggage screening - something convicted felons should not be allowed to do if you ask me.

Politicians are now getting involved, and U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor has asked the TSA to clarify their actions. Given the recent bad press for the TSA, it never ceases to amaze me how they continue to screw up, creating even more bad PR. Lesson to be learned? If you are a criminal planning to protect our skies, make sure you don't commit any crimes after your 18th birthday.

 

[dispatchguy]

The TSA just disgusts me - they are a fraud forced upon us...

 

[bigtexpilot]

The TSA just disgusts me - they are a fraud forced upon us...

I'm not saying the TSA isn't flawed but, This fellow was a 17yrs old when this happened. That is far from being an adult. I have a fourteen yr old that did something stupid. He now has a felony on his record. There is no way that I would hold this against him for the rest of his life. It was for breaking a window out of a backhoe with a rock. The only reason it was a felony was because the owner was contracted through Kansas City Southern Railway.

 

[Firefly]

So If a person has a felony, he or she is to be permanently bared from any job at an airport or other careers. Yes, they must be crucify and painted with a scarlet "F', according to the self righteous without regard to the type of felony. At one time before internet and personal data file peddlers, A person could get a fresh start after serving their dept to society. Now, that record follows them for the rest of their lives limiting their opportunities and forcing them into mediocre jobs.

 

[jonjuan]

So If a person has a felony, he or she is to be permanently bared from any job at an airport or other careers. Yes, they must be crucify and painted with a scarlet "F', according to the self righteous without regard to the type of felony. At one time before internet and personal data file peddlers, A person could get a fresh start after serving their dept to society. Now, that record follows them for the rest of their lives limiting their opportunities and forcing them into mediocre jobs.

No kidding. Why should a single DUI or drug offense keep a pilot from being hired?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I'm not saying the TSA isn't flawed but, This fellow was a 17yrs old when this happened. That is far from being an adult. I have a fourteen yr old that did something stupid. He now has a felony on his record. There is no way that I would hold this against him for the rest of his life. It was for breaking a window out of a backhoe with a rock. The only reason it was a felony was because the owner was contracted through Kansas City Southern Railway.

We've all committed a felony at some point or another. Many just never got caught. I know I fall into this select group. Of course I was a teenager in a city running wild. Thanks, Mayor Dinkins...

 

[msmb]

I guess there aren't any non felons left who want to work for the TSA. Please, give me a break about second chances. We are talking about airport security, not serving burgers at In and Out. We can't hold the standards up a little higher? All you liberals out there don't come complaining to me when things go south again, learning has NOT occurred in this country.

 

[Captain Jeff]

Well, if i robbed a bank when I 17 would I get the airport id? The TSA should not be special. If I would get it.... Let him have it.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The TSA just disgusts me - they are a fraud forced upon us...

Thanks W!

 

[igneousy2]

It seems from the article that it is disputed how old he was when this occured...the TSA is saying 17 the airport is saying it was 18.

Regardless of the individuals age, the regulations do not exempt crimes that were committed prior to 18. The relevant question is how long ago did the crime occur?

§ 1542.209 Fingerprint-based criminal history records checks (CHRC).

...

...each airport operator must ensure that no individual is granted unescorted access authority unless the individual has undergone a fingerprint-based CHRC that does not disclose that he or she has a disqualifying criminal offense, as described in paragraph (d) of this section.

...

(d) Disqualifying criminal offenses. An individual has a disqualifying criminal offense if the individual has been convicted, or found not guilty of by reason of insanity, of any of the disqualifying crimes listed in this paragraph (d) in any jurisdiction during the 10 years before the date of the individual's application for unescorted access authority, or while the individual has unescorted access authority. The disqualifying criminal offenses are as follows—

...

(22) Armed or felony unarmed robbery.

...

Lastly, regardless of the regulations, I firmly believe that people should be given second chances for their youthful screw ups. That being said, there is a group of crimes, that would be considered "normal" for teenagers and should be forgiven and there are crimes that should not be forgiven in all but the youngest offenders. Felony Criminal Property Damage (throwing rocks from a tractor), mail-theft when you are 14...sure forget it.

A 16 year old Murdering then raping the corpse of his sister (http://www.whsv.com/virginiaap/headlines/9569617.html) is not in the same solar-system. Robbery???I guess it would depend on the circumstances...A 17 year old threating to beat up a 14 year old for his baseball card collection is a lot different then that same 17 year old knocking off liquor stores with a shot-gun.

In any case, the TSA rules seem pretty clear...if it was more than 10 years ago it is okay, if less than 10 it's a no-go item.