State agency won't renew sex offenders' licenses

I wonder how many murderers, domestic violence, thieves, central registry folks (child abuse), and even state workers have been allowed licenses? Accordingly, I push for easy access to all criminal data, wouldn't that be in the best interest of public safety?

3-6-2010 Illinois:

A state regulatory agency won't renew the licenses of several professionals who had been convicted of a sex offense.

Licenses placed in refuse to renew status include: real estate brokers ......; real estate salespersons ......; and pharmacist ......

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation compared its more than 1 million licensees against the Illinois Sex Offender Database, after receiving a complaint in March 2009 about a real estate broker who'd been convicted of possessing child pornography.

"To ensure the integrity of our licensed professions, we work closely with other state agencies, such as the State Police," stated Daniel Bluthardt, director of the department's Division of Professional Regulation. "While the department has reviewed this type of data in the past, technological advances have improved our ability to match our licensees against other agencies databases and take appropriate disciplinary action when necessary."

While laws governing professional licenses in Illinois don't explicitly prohibit sex offenders from holding them, a department spokeswoman said provisions require that they inform the department about felony convictions.

The department investigated almost 600 licensees whose names appeared on the data base.

Each of the individuals were afforded due process, according to a department statement, and were given an opportunity for a hearing to determine whether they violated the laws and rules pertaining to their professions and whether they should be allowed to retain their professional licenses. ..Source.. LYNNE STIEFEL Sun-Times Media