In May 2018, the Alaska State Ombudsman received a complaint from a health care worker who had their background check clearance renewal denied based on a misdemeanor conviction more than twenty years before. The complaint alleged that the Background Check Program, which had cleared the complainant in 2012, had erroneously determined that the misdemeanor conviction was a permanent barrier. After investigating the complaint and meeting with agency leadership, the Ombudsman found the allegation justified and made six recommendations to resolve the complaint and prevent similar problems in the future. The agency accepted two recommendations, most importantly the recommendation to maintain the complainant’s background clearance. Read the full report below.
