Ban the Box Laws

The purpose of Ban the Box is to give you a better chance of getting a job. There are many different types of Ban the Box laws. All of them stop an employer from asking you about having a criminal record on a job application. Usually, the employer is allowed to ask about your criminal record at another step in the hiring process.

Many states, counties, and cities have Ban the Box laws. Each law is different. Some laws only apply to working for a government agency (a public employer). Some apply to both public and private employers.

To find out about your Ban the Box laws, select the county/city/town where you are seeking employment from the drop-down menu below: 

If you are seeking employment with any agency of the County of Alameda, you are protected by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 2006-389).
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: Alameda
If you are seeking employment with the City of East Palo Alto, you are protected by their Ban the Box administrative policy.
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: San Mateo
Munic field: East Palo Alto
If you are seeking employment in the County of Santa Clara, you are protected by their Ban the Box policy.
Loc level field:
State field: California
County field: Santa Clara

In 2014, the District enacted the Fair Criminal Record Screening Amendment Act known as Ban the Box. This Act prohibits any employer in the District with 11 or more employees from asking about criminal history on job applications. The employer must wait to ask about criminal history until after a "conditional offer of employment" is made.

Loc level field:
State field: District of Columbia
Munic field: District of Columbia
The City of Fort Meyers removes questions about felony convictions from city job applications.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Lee
Munic field: Fort Meyers
The City of Gainesville does not ask about a criminal history on its applications for employment.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Alachua
Munic field: Gainesville
The City of Tampa does a background check only after making a conditional offer of employment for prospective city employees.
Loc level field:
State field: Florida
County field: Hillsborough
Munic field: Tampa

Augusta-Richmond County has a Ban the Box policy for County employees. This means that if you apply for a job to work for Augusta-Richmond County, the application does not ask if you have a criminal history. The county will wait until it has decided that an applicant is a finalist for the job before conducting a background check.

Loc level field:
State field: Georgia
County field: Augusta-Richmond
Munic field: Augusta

The City of Wichita does not ask about criminal history on city job applications. With the exception of law enforcement positions, which still requires a background check before an offer is made, Wichita now considers conviction history only after a conditional offer has been made, and considers factors like the nature and severity of the offense, how much time has pass

Loc level field:
State field: Kansas
Munic field: Wichita

The City of East Lansing does not ask about criminal history on city job applications. Once the City finds that you are qualified for employment, then it does a background check.

Loc level field:
State field: Michigan
Munic field: East Lansing

Saginaw County does not ask about criminal history on most county government job applications. The county may ask questions about criminal background after it decides an applicant is suitable for employment but before making an offer.

 

Loc level field:
State field: Michigan
County field: Saginaw

The Township of Washtenaw County does not require disclosure of past criminal convictions on applications for employment. The County conducts criminal background checks after it decides an applicant is “otherwise qualified” for the position.

 

Loc level field:
State field: Michigan
County field: Washtenaw

The City of St. Paul has a Ban the Box law. The City will not ask about your criminal history on City job applications.

Loc level field:
State field: Minnesota
Munic field: St. Paul
If you are seeking employment in the City of Buffalo, you are covered by Buffalo’s Fair Employment Screening law (Article 5 of Chapter 154 of the Code of the City of Buffalo), which is a Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Erie
Munic field: Buffalo
Dutchess County has a Ban the Box Law that applies to jobs with county agencies (Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: county
State field: New York
County field: Dutchess
If you work or are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Ithaca, you are covered by their Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Tompkins
Munic field: Ithaca
If you are seeking employment in New York City (NYC), you are covered by the Fair Chance Act, which is a Ban the Box law.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: New York City
Munic field: New York City
If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Newburgh, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Orange
Munic field: Newburgh
If you work or are seeking employment in the City of Rochester, you are covered under the “Fair Chance Screening” laws.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Monroe
Munic field: Rochester
If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Woodstock, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Ulster
Munic field: Woodstock
If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Yonkers, you are covered by their Ban the Box law (also known as Resolution No. 199-2015).
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Westchester
Munic field: Yonkers

The University has its own Ban the Box policy. It does criminal background checks only when making an offer of employment.

 

Loc level field:
State field: North Carolina
County field: Durham
Munic field: Durham

The Columbia city government has a policy that restricts asking about criminal records during its hiring process. Although the mayor in 2019 publicly supported extending Ban the Box to city contractors, the city has not adopted the Ban the Box ordinance. 
 

Loc level field:
State field: South Carolina
Munic field: Columbia