Problem
We have the following sircumstances:
A police service in a large Canadian city has started a "crime-free housing" program, which has the goal of keeping "illegal and nuisance activity out of rental communities". Landlords are encouraged to sign up for the program - if they complete all three steps, they get a certificate showing that they are part of the program. The steps including things like teaching landlords how to prevent crime and nuisance by increasing the use of surveillance cameras and engaging in "tenant selection" practices. Landlords are required to start requesting criminal record checks for all their prospective tenants.
Answer the following questions:
Does the program raise any privacy or equality rights concerns? What groups might be particularly impacted by including a criminal record check in a housing application? Do you think, overall, that this program is likely to help community safety? Why or why not?