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Legislature looking to ban workplace discrimination over minor charges

Apr 11, 2019 12:15 pm
Emilie Ruscoe is reporting for Politico New York state lawmakers are considering new legislation that would ban workplace discrimination over minor yet outstanding criminal charges. The measure would apply to those who have been charged with a crime, but had the charges adjourned contemplating dismissal, a status commonly abbreviated as ACD. Following adjournment contemplating dismissal, a case technically remains open for either six months or a year. If the person does not offend again during that time, the case is dismissed and the charges are dropped. Though ACD cases remain open and could be put back on a court calendar for prosecution, according to the Legal Aid Society, this is extremely rare. Proponents say the law is needed at a time when background checks for employment have become standard practice across many industries. “It will allow the tens of thousands of New Yorkers whose criminal cases are resolved with an ACD each year to work and support their families,” said Melissa Ader, an employment lawyer with the Legal Aid Society. Read the full story at Politico New York.