Ban the Box Policy Could be a Game Changer

Finding a job can be tough for anyone with a criminal record. That's why President Obama is in favor of a "Ban the Box" initiative that eliminates the requirement for some applicants to disclose their incarceration histories in the early stages of the hiring process. The initiative is aimed at helping former prisoners find jobs and get their lives back on track.

Thousands of employers do background checks to protect themselves from the liability associated with hiring someone who has a criminal past. Unfortunately, many of these employers reject any applicant with a criminal record, with no regard for the circumstances of the crime. Someone convicted of passing a bad check is excluded just as easily as someone who spent time in prison for assault, even though one is a violent crime and the other is not. The practice of excluding applicants with criminal histories makes it difficult for former prisoners to find meaningful employment.

As of November 2015, the application for federal employment requires applicants to indicate if they have ever been incarcerated. Checking the box doesn't automatically disqualify an applicant from employment, but hiring managers are less likely to review an application in detail if they see that the box has a check mark. The Ban the Box initiative aims to eliminate the requirement for applicants to disclose their incarceration history so early in the hiring process. If applicants have a chance to discuss their qualifications with a hiring manager, they have a better shot at finding steady work. If the initiative goes through, it may be easier for an applicant with a criminal record to find a job.

The initiative does not apply to government contractors or private employers, but it's a start. When former prisoners disclose their status early in the hiring process, they rarely hear back from potential employers. If an applicant with a criminal record makes it to the interview stage, however, he is six times more likely to land a job. The ability to earn a living is a point of pride for former prisoners, and it can even prevent some criminals from committing additional offenses.

When employers refuse to consider anyone who has a criminal record, they are missing out on the opportunity to hire highly qualified employees. There is a tendency to think of former prisoners as people who lack professional skills, but many prisoners worked as doctors, accountants, lawyers or business managers. It's a shame that employers exclude many of these applicants from consideration. Unfortunately, private employers do have the right to select employees as they see fit, as long as they follow state and federal antidiscrimination laws.

Former prisoners are often unable to find steady jobs, making it difficult to earn a living and increasing the risk of recidivism. President Obama's initiative seeks to even the playing field for anyone with a criminal record and history of incarceration.

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