Cleveland.com’s ‘right to be forgotten’ removes names from some crime stories

Post by slededit » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 8:30 PM UTC

ronnier wrote: post #38

nimbius wrote: post #3

this is important in the united states, as the criminal justice system is often used as a blacklist. Once convicted of a DUI or drug possession, this criminal record can be used to bar employment, rescind voting rights, and legally practice housing discrimination. American criminal justice is often a precursor for lasting biblical retribution. For example, sex offenders are often branded with scarlet letter for life…

> Once convicted of a DUI or drug possession, this criminal record can be used to bar employment, rescind voting rights, and legally practice housing discrimination. And Canada will not let you enter their country if you have a DUI in the US.

Post by gowld » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 8:50 PM UTC

oh_sigh wrote: post #54

piker wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not your right to dispense such justice--that in fact belongs to the state in a civilized society. I think this example proves the exact opposite of what you desire. Someone who has spent time in jail and had their record expunged 10 years later has been deemed by the state to have satisfied the burden of their offense, and, yes, their right to have their actions forgiven and forgotten should be at its zenith. […

Where are you getting that serving your time in jail gives you the right to have your actions forgotten? Society 'forgives' you when you serve your full sentence, but there is nothing stated anywhere that your victims need to forget what you did once your sentence is up.

Post by pasbesoin » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 9:24 PM UTC

gowld wrote: post #92

jawns wrote: post #53

Former news editor here. Perhaps the biggest danger in this and other similar policies is not how it is applied today -- removing the names of people accused of minor crimes that have had their records expunged seems like a compassionate policy, given the effects it can have on things like employment prospects -- but in how it may be applied in the future. The idea that a newspaper archive is a collection of living d…

Any archival library is free to save a copy of newspaper articles. Throughout history the standard method of reading an old newspaper edition was to go to a library, not ask the newspaper for a copy. This doesn't need to change.

Post by cortesoft » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 9:59 PM UTC

piker wrote: post #62

Hupriene wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't about dispensing justice. This is about my personal right to own my experience of my life and those I interact with. Saying that my anger over having been abused by someone is no longer justified just because the courts have seen fit to expunge their records of the crime is deeply intrusive. The criminal court's job is to rectify the individual's relationship with the government. It does nothing to rectify…

Part of the social contract does seem to dictate that the relationship between criminal and victim is governed by law. For example, if you were to respond to the attack by defending yourself in the moment, resulting in the assailant's death, you would potentially be free of any charges due to your right to defend yourself. However, if you were to wait a day (or, say, until after the assailant's release on what you pe…

Post by cortesoft » Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 10:01 PM UTC

DenisM wrote: post #96

LanceH wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your right to have an opinion of someone, speak facts freely and associate with who you wish are all fundamental rights which would be compromised by a "right to be forgotten."

I agree with those being fundamental rights. I wonder if a balance of rights can be found between those and the right to be forgotten - some way to preserve the individual agency of the victim and to give the offender a second chance. It might be easier in the end to prohibit hiring discrimination based on criminal history same as its forbidden for other personal traits.