It's admirable that the N.C. Employment Security Commission is giving some convicts a second chance to become law-abiding citizens by providing some of them work-release jobs. It's disturbing, however, that one of those people - a man convicted of repeatedly writing bad checks - has had access to personal information on 2,000 state employees.

State Auditor Les Merritt thinks so, too, although he apparently found no evidence that the information was misused.

The commission, headed by Harry Payne, a former state representative from New Hanover County, would do well to take Merritt's advice to review its policies governing access to personnel information. At a time when identity theft is rampant, it seems prudent for state agencies to use a bit more discretion in entrusting sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and birth dates, to someone who was already convicted of breaking the law.

That type of trust must be earned, preferably after the lawbreaker has finished paying his debt to society.