Alfred Blumstein and Kiminori Nakamura, of Carnegie Mellon University, recently published a study that indicates there is a point when past-offenders pose no greater threat to society than average citizens. The researchers call for a reexamination of background check information to exclude offenses for offenders who longer pose a threat.

Based on historical data, the study finds that offenders who commit robbery, burglary, or aggravated assault as 18-years-old, but do not re-offend, no longer pose a threat to society at about age 26.

In addition, the study found that the age of the offender at the time of the offense is a factor. In general, younger offenders (age 16) took 8.5 years before they longer posed a threat, but older offenders (age 20) took much less time, at only 4.4 years.

The researchers propose that more analysis is needed, but the preliminary numbers indicate that offenders who do not re-offend for as little as 4.4 years (depending on age and offense) generally pose no greater threat to society than individuals who have never been arrested and should not be denied employment or other opportunities based on their record after that time has passed.

Source: http://crimeinamerica.net/2009/08/12/redemption-in-an-era-of-widespread-criminal-background-checks-us-department-of-justice/?fd58e720

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