Yeah.

I personally don't think a persons past should have to haunt them. People make mistakes, I think if they have only one conviction that should not have to tell potential employers.

The only exception being violent or sexual crimes, in my opinion.
Someone mentioned in home care, maybe theft for that job.

And Credit Score should not matter in the least. If you live in your means, you have terrible credit, if you live out of your means your credit will be terrible. Lose lose.

yes

Absolutely.

Yes, I think it's justified to ask if a potential employee has been convicted of a crime. I think the nature of the offense should be taken into account, but employers need to cover themselves and their customers.

For example, my beau has a misdemeanor public drunkenness charge from when he was in college. I don't think that should overly affect his life, because it was a one-time thing 10 years ago. But, my roommates have both dated felons who swore they had changed. Both of them ended up "borrowing" huge amounts of money to go buy drugs, one of them going so far as to blackmail my roommate for more drug money with pictures taken during sex.

A stupid mistake shouldn't ruin someone's life, but that's the thing. It has to be a verifiable "stupid mistake". Rape or assault or extortion are not stupid mistakes. Taking drugs is often a stupid mistake, but depending on just what the drug is, employers should be able to find out just how many drug convictions there are and for what. A potential employee who has been busted for marijuana a couple of times is different than a potential employee who was busted for heroin or meth. I've never heard of marijuana users stealing large amounts of money from a company to feed their habit.

I am involved in healthcare and I would want to know if the person caring for me or my loved one had previous problems.
Every job may not be necessary but I think it is important for most jobs!

As an employee I would not work with someone with that kind of a record. I might leave. I feel it is up to the employer to check as a way of respecting the other employees.

I think it depends on the job they are applying for.

Yes. I think they should be able to ask.

I think they should be permitted to inquire, but I think it should be limited to 20 years. I think if someone committed a felony action 25 years ago as a foolish teen, but has remained on the other side of the law since then, it should not bar them from employment.

Just my thoughts.

yes....i believe its the law?

Yes, I do.