This is what scares me. Employers whose hands are tied morally, ethically or legally by not being "allowed" to give reasons for firing someone or not feeling free to warn someone else who hires them. Passing the buck just facilities more bad behavior, criminal behavior or even violence and death as we see. An employee who steals, whether it's from the business or likely fellow employees considering that it was kleptomania, and isn't prosecuted or bargained with regarding getting mental help, is doing a disservice to everyone. I realize there's no obligation to help someone, I don't have a problem with that, but I do have a problem with facilitating the creation of more victims. Not just victims of thefts, but the whole can of worms for the future employers having to deal with the same thing.
I think it's egregious that she was rewarded a very nice letter of recommendation.
I'd be furious to find out I was misled into hiring an undesirable, disruptive and criminal person. :/ At the other end, I'd feel sick knowing I pawned her off on someone else. If no one ever pressed charges and an employee never had to face real consequences, nothing would show in a background check when potential employers did their due diligence.
I know it goes on, but it's not right.