Does Banning the Box Improve Racial Equity?
Ban-the-box policies that restrict employers from asking job applicants about their criminal history have mixed consequences for people of color and should be augmented with other reforms, according to a new report from the Urban Institute. Ban the Box and Racial Discrimination finds that while ban-the-box policies make it easier for people with criminal histories to get callbacks for jobs, they often lead employers to call back fewer black applicants who can no longer prove their lack of a criminal record. The authors recommend alternatives and additions to ban-the-box, including name-blind job applications and increased expungement of criminal history information.