Fair Criminal Record Screening Act (also known as “Ban the
Box”)
Issue: Defending Workers & Families
Target Level of Office: Local
Policy Origin: District of Columbia City Council
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=201
Summary Narrative of the Policy: To amend the Re-entry Facilitation Amendment Act of 2012
to assist with the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated people into the community
by removing barriers to gainful employment by prohibiting the consideration of a job
applicant’s arrest record during the hiring process and to restrict an employer’s inquiry into a
job applicant’s prior convictions before a conditional offer of employment.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• This act prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants who have finished
serving criminal sentences by restricting when an employer is able to ask an applicant
about his or her criminal history.
• By limiting the inquiry to after a conditional offer of employment has been made, this
act allows returning citizens to be judged on their merits prior to consideration of their
past and removes one of the biggest reintegration barriers for formerly incarcerated
community members.
• According to the National Employment Law Project, an estimated one in four American
adults has a criminal record. Employment is a critical factor to lowering recidivism rates.
• See additional resources from the National Employment Law Project at http://www.nelp.
org/page/-/sclp/2011/cityandcountyhiringinitiatives.pdf?nocdn=1.
22
Local Level
Policy
2014 Book