90.7 WMFE

On the first page of most employment applications, there’s a small box job seekers are asked to mark if they have a criminal history. But supporters of the “Ban the Box” campaign say asking that question is unfair and stacks the deck against people trying to move forward after their debt to society is paid.

The “Ban the Box” campaign began about ten years ago, and so far nineteen states and more than 100 municipalities have stopped asking applicants up front about their criminal history.

Background checks may come later in the hiring process, but Orlando Sentinel columnist and editorial writer Darryl Owens tells 90.7’s Nicole Creston there are still benefits to banning the box.