California keeps a secret list of criminal cops, but says you can’t have it
Disclosure: I am a former felon, convicted and sentenced for assaulting a carjacker.  pro-tip: never take the public defender.<p>My question about this whole discussion is this:  Whats the point.  If prisons are designed as &quot;correctional&quot; facilities, which many good ones are, then you&#x27;ll obviously move past being a felon and improve your life.  If you keep a secret list of people you know have been convicted of a felony, you&#x27;re tacitly admitting you either dont believe in prisons as an effective tool for correction, or you&#x27;re looking for something more sinister...biblical retribution<p>And lets be honest, being a former felon <i>IS</i> a scarlet letter in the US. employers can discriminate against you, housing can discriminate against you in renting and in homeowners covenants, and you can be denied public services like disability and food stamps in some states.  Former felons cant vote without a lengthy and expensive process of reinstatement.<p>Yes, i get that teachers, doctors, and police are certainly important positions, but again, the list.  If you&#x27;re just keeping it as part of their personnel and noting certain positions they shouldnt hold out of an abundance of caution in the face of an indeterminate outcome from mental rehabilitation or incarceration, then perhaps keep it secret.  Use it as a blacklist if thats whats required for certain positions.  however If you&#x27;re just looking to shield felons from the inconvenience of incarceration or criminal charges, then reconsider it.