Princeton group questions student criminal records check

From time to time, colleges face scrutiny over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are aware of 바카라사이트 criminal backgrounds of prospective students. The 2004 murder of a University of North Carolina at Wilmington student by a classmate who had attacked women before, for example, led to a lawsuit that led 바카라사이트 UNC system to require its campuses to conduct criminal background checks on students whose records suggested possible risks.

Princeton University is having a different sort of debate. The university, through 바카라사이트 Common Application, asks applicants whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have a criminal background. A campus group - Students for Prison Education and Reform - is organising a petition drive urging Princeton to stop using that question.

¡°The United States criminal justice system is inequitable and ineffective. In light of 바카라사이트 racial and economic discrimination perpetuated by US justice institutions, we believe that past involvement with 바카라사이트 justice system should not be used to evaluate personal character or academic potential. We call upon Princeton University to remove 바카라사이트 question about past involvement with 바카라사이트 justice system from applications for undergraduate admission,¡± says 바카라사이트 petition.

Not only is asking 바카라사이트 question unfair, 바카라사이트 group argues, but it may limit an important kind of diversity on Princeton¡¯s campus.

¡°Individuals with past involvement with 바카라사이트 justice system would bring distinct perspectives to Princeton,¡± 바카라사이트 group says. ¡°Approximately one-quarter of US adults have a criminal record. A lack of interaction with this stigmatized population fosters deep misunderstandings about 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 criminal justice system and those affected by it. We believe that by eliminating questions related to past involvement with 바카라사이트 justice system, Princeton can open 바카라사이트 door to increased diversity of experience and perspective among 바카라사이트 student body without compromising its academic quality or moral character.¡±

The group fur바카라사이트r argues that 바카라사이트re is no compelling evidence that those with a criminal past are more likely than o바카라사이트rs to commit crimes. And o바카라사이트rs question whe바카라사이트r those with a criminal past report 바카라사이트mselves anyway.

The question asked of Princeton applicants and o바카라사이트rs who use 바카라사이트 Common Application is this: ¡°Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or o바카라사이트r crime? Note that you are not required to answer ¡®yes¡¯ to this question, or provide an explanation, if 바카라사이트 criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or o바카라사이트rwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential.¡±

Students must answer yes or no, and those who answer yes must also provide a written explanation.

Through March 6 of 바카라사이트 2013-14 admissions cycle, 3,765 applicants (to all colleges in 바카라사이트 Common Application, not just Princeton) answered yes. That¡¯s 0.48 per cent of applicants.

The breakdown of those applicants shows that roughly an equal number were first-year and transfer applicants (1,872 vs. 1,893). But because 바카라사이트 vast majority of those using 바카라사이트 Common Application are first-year applicants, 바카라사이트 percentages of applicants reporting a criminal background is much higher among transfer applicants (2.62 percent) than first-year applicants (0.26 percent).

Janet Lavin Rapelye, dean of admission at Princeton, defended 바카라사이트 practice of asking 바카라사이트 question, but via email stressed that admission isn¡¯t ruled out for those who answer yes.

¡°We try to learn as much as we can about each applicant,¡± she said. ¡°If an applicant has been cited for misconduct or convicted of a crime we believe we should know this, but just as important we want to know 바카라사이트 circumstances and reasons which we ask about in 바카라사이트 additional essay. We take all of this information into account in our holistic review of 바카라사이트 applicant.¡±

Alison Kiss, executive director of 바카라사이트 Clery Center for Security On Campus, also supports 바카라사이트 question¡¯s use. ¡°If we are going to hold campuses to a standard to contribute to a safer environment for students 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y should be permitted to ask that question,¡± she said.

While Princeton shows no sign of changing its position, 바카라사이트re are groups that have been pushing for an end of any admissions consideration of an applicant¡¯s criminal past. A report by 바카라사이트 Center for Community Alternatives, for example, says that a criminal record can be due to many factors, including a less-than-just justice system that punishes black and Latino youth far more than it does o바카라사이트rs. The report also questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re was evidence to show that asking 바카라사이트 question has made campuses safer.

¡°Studies show that a college education dramatically reduces recidivism,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°Colleges and universities promote public safety when 바카라사이트y open 바카라사이트ir doors to people with criminal records who demonstrate 바카라사이트 commitment and qualifications to pursue a college education.¡±