USPS to search employee records for sex offenders
The Postal Service is seeking comments on a proposal to conduct “an ongoing matching program to identify any current Postal Service employees, who are required by state law to register on a state’s public registry of sex offenders”.
The program would use existing USPS employee records, matching them against “state sexual offender registries, which are posted on various state Web sites for the public”.
The USPS says it would “take extensive efforts to ensure that the
data is accurate”- and then:
Postal Inspectors will conduct the match and will review the match report in order to verify that the person identified in the state sexual offender public registry is in fact a Postal Service employee. A postal inspector will then determine whether the person is properly included on the public registry by reviewing the relevant facts about the offense from information furnished by relevant law enforcement agencies, such as the arresting agency. The postal inspector will refer, to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), instances where the employee failed to provide Postal Service management with any required notice of the offense; the OIG will also be informed of other instances of employee misconduct. The inspector or OIG special agent will prepare an investigative memorandum or report of investigation, respectively, which will be sent to the individual employee’s installation head. The installation head will ensure that a case-by-case analysis is conducted regarding the appropriate action to be taken. The Postal Service will provide at least 30 days advance notice prior to initiation of any adverse action against a matched individual (unless the Postal Service determines that public health or safety may be affected or threatened pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(p)(3)).
Federal Register article #1
Federal Register article #2
Update: The USPS later issued a press release which largely repeated the information given above, adding:
The Postal Service has also notified its unions and management associations that it is developing a policy which would require employees to alert management of any action that causes their name to be recorded on a sex offender registry.
Considering postal employees come in contact with children I think this might be a good program but I also think this could be used adversley by people who don’t use good judgement.
This is the key phrase to heed or the USPS can face legal problems for deflamation of character that may be extemely costly: “The USPS says it would “take extensive efforts to ensure that the data is accurate”
“deflamation” of character?
It’s not that hard to “check”. Every year the sex offender has to reregister. When they do, they list their occupation and other locating information. Often times, it is those registration clerks that notify USPS because they can’t fathom how a quasi government employee can be a sex registrant. Their criminal history is enough to prove they are convicted or not. They are the ones who caused their own “defamation” of character.
I think it is a good idea. However, they should do the same for people charged with assault, sexual harassment and they should not be put in a managerial position. This is a HUGE problem in Denver.