In an attempt to help level the playing field in the hiring process in the USA for the formerly incarcerated and/or those with a criminal background record laws continue to be made to ban the box on job application forms asking about candidates previous criminal history.

Ban-the-Box laws are designed to reduce potential discrimination in hiring and continue to be implemented across the country, from a statewide level down to city and county. Recently, Orange County, in Florida, enacted a new Ban-the-Box law that will remove the question regarding criminal history on any governmental employment application.

From WFTV on September 11, 2021:

On government job applications for Orange County, applicants have been asked to check a box stating, “Have you ever pleaded no contest to, or been convicted of, a first-degree misdemeanor or any felony?”

By removing this question, officials hope to improve access to employment for those with a criminal record and provide advancement for residents in underrepresented communities.

Officials said the change will not apply to public safety positions like firefighter and corrections officer. ^{wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/orange-county-government-stop-asking-job-applicants-if-they-have-criminal-convictions/}

As with most Ban-the-Box laws the goal is to improve employment opportunities and allow formerly incarcerated individuals a potential pathway back into mainstream employment.

From the Orlando Sentinel on September 10, 2021:

People applying for a job with the Orange County government will no longer have to disclose prior criminal convictions at the beginning of the application process, a move officials and advocates hope will improve access to employment for those with a criminal record… ^{orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-orange-county-ban-box-desmond-meade-20210910-7bi5yfj4iza27cdnan4e2adxte-story.html}

Hiring managers and HR Departments should take immediate note of changes in laws governing the use of public records as part of a pre-employment background screening can occur frequently.

At this point in time it is critical that HR departments stay abreast of ban-the-box laws as they could significantly impact hiring practices.

To read more about this subject read recent press release: County Level Ban-the-Box Continues the Trend of Managing Use of Criminal Records in Background Screening