http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loca...-box/12659947/
WASHINGTON (WUSA 9) -- "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?"
That is typically one of the first questions an employer asks of an applicant.
If the answer is "yes," D.C. Council member Tommy Wells says, "Many people are screened out right there. They don't even get to the interview."
But a new law in D.C. will prohibit employers from asking about criminal history until after an applicant is offered a job.
"At that point, you've already shown you're qualified for the job and now you get a chance to explain yourself," added Wells.
Monday, D.C. City Council unanimously voted to "ban-the-box," referring to the box on job applications asking applicants to check "yes" or "no" to whether they've ever been convicted of a crime.
Advocates for the bill stress, with 8,000 citizens going from prison back into D.C. society each year, the biggest challenge for them to re-integrate is the job market - not that there are no jobs, but that ex-cons are not considered for many because of their criminal past.
The D.C. Chamber of Commerce worked with City Council, ex-convicts and other advocates on the bill.
Council members assured that background checks will continue to legitimately disqualify certain applicants from certain jobs, especially jobs that work with specific populations -- kids and vulnerable adults.
For example, anyone convicted of a sexual assault, child abuse or neglect will be excluded from jobs that come in contact with children.
"If it's related to the job, let's say you held up a bank and you're applying for a teller, well, then [the employer] can say, 'We're not comfortable with that, so, we're not going to hire you,'" said Wells.
Hiring is the goal and getting ex-cons back to work, can work for the city, said Wingo.
Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Minnesota have ban-the-box laws in place. The Governor of Illinois is expected to sign a bill enacting the law in that state.
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