Ep208: Why Police Record Checks Are More Harmful Than Helpful, with Safiyah Husein

Many employers are asking where to find and hire “diverse talent”. What they SHOULD be asking is how their recruitment process might discriminate against these candidates once they apply.

In this episode, Safiyah Husein, a lawyer and Senior Policy Analyst at the John Howard Society, shines a light on the hidden dangers behind a widely accepted hiring procedure: the police (or criminal) background check.

This episode is for you if:

• You think police checks make your workplace safer
• Your employer has done a police check on you but you don’t know what it said
• You believe police checks only uncover findings on convicted criminals

Spoiler alert: research shows that police checks don’t do what you probably think they do.

Listen to the full episode to find out what they really do!

Contact Rosie and find JEDI resources at:  https://www.changinglenses.ca/

Full transcript available here.

Guest Bio and References/Links

About Safiyah Husein:

Safiyah Husein is a Senior Policy Analyst at the John Howard Society of Ontario (JHSO). She does research and policy development, supports its public education activities, and liaises with local offices and community partners on reform initiatives. Safiyah holds a BSc in Psychology from York University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.

JHSO actively advocated for reforms to police record checks, to protect public safety and human rights, leading to the Police Record Check Reform Act. JHSO conducts workshops and webinars to educate stakeholders about legal rights and responsibilities under the Act, and promote evidence-based best practices around police record checks and employment. 

Safiyah worked on projects related to police record check policy, and leads public education activities for legal professionals, employers and individuals navigating the job market with justice involvement.

Find Safiyah on:
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email: [e-mail]

References and resources in this episode:
Police Record Hub Website
John Howard Society Ontario Website
YouTube