Ban the box is a national campaign designed to ban employers from asking questions regarding an applicant’s criminal history on initial job application forms. Promoted by advocates for people with records, ban-the-box laws and policies aim to remove the stigma associated with previous convictions and give all applicants a fair chance at employment.
The history of ban the box goes back to 1998, when Hawaii passed a law prohibiting employers from asking job applicants about their criminal history. The movement has been gaining traction ever since, with advocates saying that it is more important than ever, given stricter sentencing laws, and increased dependence on background checks since 9/11. Learn More.