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President Obama Supports "Ban the Box" Measures (And Signs an Executive Order in the Process)


Earlier this week, President Obama was in New Jersey and announced a new Executive Order that would reduce potential discrimination against former convicts in the hiring process for federal government employees.  Under this plan, federal agencies will be prohibited from asking a candidate about their criminal record at the beginning of the application process.  Instead, a criminal record can be asked about only after an applicant's qualifications have been substantially evaluated.

Note that President Obama's Order does not impact federal contractors.  Instead, the President appears to prefer that Congress pass this type of legislation (a bill was introduced in September). 

President Obama joins several high ranking government officials, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Secretary of State/New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and Senator Rand Paul, among others, who have come out in support of "Ban the Box" measures. Of course, those who have followed this blog over the years will remember other cities and states (New Jersey; District of Columbia; Minnesota, among others) which have previously passed "Ban the Box" legislation.

"Ban the Box" measures have swept across the country in the past few years, as advocates of "Ban the Box" have argued that people who have been to prison should be given a fair chance to prove themselves when applying for a job rather than risk being weeded out by checking a box indicating a criminal record.  President Obama's Executive Order on the matter certainly gives these advocates a strong supporter in their corner.


For additional information:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/02/fact-sheet-president-obama-announces-new-actions-promote-rehabilitation

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