INDUSTRY NEWS
Proposed Legislation to Expand “Ban the Box” in Colorado
Colorado lawmakers are hoping to extend current state laws prohibiting questions about past criminal convictions on job applications to all private companies in the state. Currently, questions of this type are not allowed on...
Introduction of “Ban the Box” Bill Planned in Alabama
Senator Quinton Ross (D-Montgomery) announced that he will attempt to pass legislation to ban questions about past criminal convictions from employment applications and state license applications. The announcement was made to the Alabama Prison...
The White House and Koch Industries Collaborate for Criminal Justice Reform
Together with the U.S Justice Action Network, officials at the White House and leaders at Koch Industries are working towards reforming the current U.S. criminal justice system. The group aims to revise sentencing laws...
Nashville Commission Passes “Ban the Box” for City Job Applications
Nashville has now joined a growing list of states and US cities to remove questions concerning criminal convictions from government job applications. At the urging of nearly 10,000 local residents, the Metro’s Civil Service...
Updated Data Sharing Legislation Continued between the European Union and the United States
Renewed efforts are underway towards the new data sharing legislation between the European Union and the United States. This was initiated two years ago when the EU’s highest court ruled that the Safe Harbor...
President Obama Mandates “Ban the Box” on Federal Employee Applications
President Obama has ordered to “ban the box” on all federal employee applications, excluding federal contractors. Following the lines of city and state governments all over the country, Obama hopes to increase the chances...
New Data-Sharing Agreement Reached with the EU
The United States recently struck a new data-sharing agreement with the European Union. Although nothing is final, the deal hopes to replace the 15-year-old Safe Harbor Plan that the EU recently overturned as being...
Support for “Ban the Box” Grows in Wisconsin
A “ban the box” measure has gained bipartisan support within the state government of Wisconsin. With support from WISDOM, a grassroots group working for the fair treatment of non-violent offenders, Senators Ron Johnson and...
UK Group Works to “Ban the Box”
In the UK, the Business in the Community group (BITC) is working to “ban the box” on job applications throughout the country. A survey done at the HMP Nottingham shows that 91% of inmates...
Senators Push for “Ban the Box” Measure on All Federal Applications
Senators have advanced a federal “ban the box” policy another step towards final approval. The Fair Chance bill applies to all federal agency and federal contractor employment applications, excluding positions such as national security...
Miami-Dade County Passed “Ban the Box” Measure
Miami-Dade County in Florida passed a measure in an 8-4 vote to “ban the box” from county government employment applications. Among the supporters of the law, the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s office stated that there...
Expungement Legislation Passed in Maryland
New legislation in Maryland will help people expunge certain offenses from their public record. People will be able to expunge minor non-violent offenses, certain misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct and trespassing, and offenses that...
New York “Bans the Box” on State Applications Along with Other Fair Chance Reforms
Legislation was recently passed in New York that will “ban the box” from all state employment applications. The initiative was implemented by Governor Cuomo as part of his plan to assist ex-cons transitioning back...
Criminal and Civil Fingerprints Now Housed in Same FBI Database
The FBI has released information as part of their Privacy Impact Assessment that combine all fingerprints into one database. That means fingerprints submitted for background screening or licensing will now be housed in the...
Ex-Convicts Challenge Law Limiting Employment Opportunities
In the state of Pennsylvania a handful of individuals with old criminal records are suing the state to get the right to work in what is considered a “covered facility.” According to the Older...
Mental Health History No Longer Provided on Toronto Police Background Checks
After a recommendation from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Toronto police will no longer be providing records on mental health episodes for individuals on Vulnerable Sector Screening applications. These applications are used...
Uber Could Return to Kansas with Proposed Legislation
The state of Kansas and the ride sharing service, Uber, have reached a compromise that could bring the service back to the state. After original legislation to regulate the service was considered too restrictive...
Senators Press President Obama to Join the “Ban the Box” Movement
A letter from 27 Democratic Senators was sent to President Obama urging him to implement a “ban the box” initiative for all federal contractors and agencies. The letter highlighted that this type of initiative...
Concern Grows Over Lack of Background Check Requirements for Bus Drivers in Kansas
In Kansas there has been growing concern over the fact that teachers are required to have criminal background checks but not school bus drivers or classified staff such as para-educators, secretaries, and lunch personnel....
Los Angeles Fair Held to Help Felons Reduce Their Records to Misdemeanors
A fair was held in Los Angeles, California as part of legislation called Proposition 47 to assist people change felony records that are non-severe and non-violent into misdemeanors. The goal is to aid in...
City of Enfield Updates Volunteer Background Screening Policy
The city of Enfield, Connecticut board of education members have recently proposed an update to an existing volunteer fingerprinting and background screening policy. In the proposed update, volunteers that work directly with Enfield public...
House-Approved “Ban the Box” Legislation Moves to Oregon Senate
The Oregon House of Representatives approved “ban the box” legislation which will now move on to the Senate for final decision. The only question left is whether or not the legislation will be required...
Delaware to Require Background Checks for Summer Camp Employees
Officials in the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) are working to streamline background screening requirements for all summer camps in the state. The requirement would include two checks;...
Delaware to Require Background Checks for Summer Camp Employees
Officials in the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) are working to streamline background screening requirements for all summer camps in the state. The requirement would include two checks;...
Ohio’s Background Check System Fails Audit
After a review of a few thousand records, Ohio’s fingerprint-based background check system was shown to have returned many inaccurate records, with some being incomplete and some returning with missing information. The system processes...
Ohio’s Background Check System Fails Audit
After a review of a few thousand records, Ohio’s fingerprint-based background check system was shown to have returned many inaccurate records, with some being incomplete and some returning with missing information. The system processes...
Background Checks Requirements Debated for CERT Volunteers Nationwide
All across the nation, managers of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) have been debating requiring criminal background checks for all volunteers, Some counties already require background checks for local volunteers. Advocates of background...
Union in Canada Files Injunction to Hinder New Screening Requirement for Civil Servants
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has filed an injunction against the Federal Court of Canada that would hinder Canada’s new background screening system. The newly enacted system includes fingerprinting,...
Background Checks Requirements Debated for CERT Volunteers Nationwide
All across the nation, managers of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) have been debating requiring criminal background checks for all volunteers, Some counties already require background checks for local volunteers. Advocates of background...
Union in Canada Files Injunction to Hinder New Screening Requirement for Civil Servants
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has filed an injunction against the Federal Court of Canada that would hinder Canada’s new background screening system. The newly enacted system includes fingerprinting,...
Portland to Consider “Banning the Box” for All Employers Applications
The City of Portland, Oregon is currently considering requiring employers to “ban the box” from job applications and restrict background screening until after an offer of employment has been made. The ordinance would apply...
Portland to Consider “Banning the Box” for All Employers Applications
The City of Portland, Oregon is currently considering requiring employers to “ban the box” from job applications and restrict background screening until after an offer of employment has been made. The ordinance would apply...
Recurring Fingerprint Checks Required for Kansas Public School District Employees
A House committee in Kansas amended a fingerprinting bill originally introduced by the Senate. Originally applying only to new hires, now all school district employees are required to get a fingerprint and criminal background...
Legislation Introduced to Increase Background Checks for Pennsylvania Teachers
Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania seeks to expand legislation called the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which aims to increase resources for law enforcement and start a fund for victims of trafficking. The...
New Jersey in the Works to Require International Background Checks for Doctors ›
A bill passed New Jersey’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee that would require doctors and surgeons applying for or renewing a license to obtain an international criminal background check. New Jersey’s Board of Medical...
Settlement with Three Largest Credit Reporting Agencies to Increase Consumer Protection
The three biggest national credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, worked together with the New York Attorney General’s Office to create an agreement that will increase protection for the approximate 200 million consumers...
