The Census Bureau has made some changes to its hiring and security procedures after reports that a convicted sex offender was hired to go door-to-door in New Jersey, says a USA Today report.
"No hire will be allowed into the field without passing a fingerprint process," Census Director Robert Groves said at a briefing. "Any name check that discovers a mismatch between name, date of birth, sex, or Social Security number ... will stop processing of applicant."
The New Jersey sex offender was hired and began working as an enumerator before his fingerprint check was complete. In Indiana, however, a Census taker was allegedly involved in a burglary and rape even though he had passed the background check. He had no criminal history, the report says.
"Also, starting immediately, whenever new information is obtained about criminal activities of our staff, immediate action will be taken," Groves said.
There have been more than 100 incidents of assaults or attacks against Census workers, including shootings, robberies and carjackings. Seven have been killed in car accidents and one was murdered while off duty, says the report.
