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: 

Connecticut - Bridgeport Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Connecticut, you are covered by its Fair Chance Employment Law, which is a “Ban the Box” law. The law applies to both private and public employers.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Bridgeport

Connecticut - Hartford Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Connecticut, you are covered by its Fair Chance Employment Law, which is a “Ban the Box” law. The law applies to both private and public employers.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Hartford

Connecticut - New Haven Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Connecticut, you are covered by its Fair Chance Employment Law, which is a “Ban the Box” law. The law applies to both private and public employers.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: New Haven

Connecticut - Norwich Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Connecticut, you are covered by its Fair Chance Employment Law, which is a “Ban the Box” law. The law applies to both private and public employers.

Loc level field:
State field: Connecticut
Munic field: Norwich

Massachusetts - Boston Ban the Box Law

The City of Boston has a Ban the Box law. The City and City contractors/vendors will not ask about your criminal histories on City job applications. Background checks are required for only some jobs.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Boston

Massachusetts - Cambridge Ban the Box Law

The City of Cambridge has a Ban the Box law. The City and its vendors will not ask about criminal history on City job applications. Background checks are required for only certain jobs after an applicant is determined to be otherwise qualified for the position.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Cambridge

Massachusetts - Worcester Ban the Box Law

The City of Worcester has a Ban the Box law. The City and its vendors will not ask about your criminal history on City job applications.

Loc level field:
State field: Massachusetts
Munic field: Worcester

New Jersey - Ban the Box Law

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. Typically, employers are permitted to inquire about your criminal record at a later stage in the hiring process.

Loc level field:
State field: New Jersey
Munic field: Newark

New York - Albany Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in Albany County, you are covered by the Albany County Fair Chance Act. This is a “Ban the Box” law and only applies to the public sector.
Loc level field:
State field: New York
County field: Albany
Munic field: Albany

New York - Buffalo Ban the Box Law

If you seek employment in the City of Buffalo, you are covered by the Fair Employment Screening Law, a “Ban the Box” law. This law applies to the public sector and any person, partnership, corporation, labor organization, not-for-profit organization, or association with 15 or more employees.
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Erie
Munic field: Buffalo

New York - Dutchess County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in Dutchess County, you are covered by its Ban the Box law. This law only applies to the public sector.
Loc level field: county
State field: New York
County field: Dutchess

New York - Ithaca Ban the Box Law

On job applications for the City of Ithaca, you will not be asked about your criminal record. Instead, the city will conduct a background and reference check for “all finalists in the hiring process.”
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Tompkins
Munic field: Ithaca

New York - Kingston Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in the City of Kingston, you are covered by its Ban the Box law. The law only applies to the public sector. 

Loc level field:
State field: New York
County field: Ulster

New York - Monroe County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in Monroe County, you are covered by the Monroe County Fair Chance Employment Act. This is a “Ban the Box” law and only applies to the county-wide public sector.

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State field: New York
County field: Monroe

New York - New York City Ban the Box Law

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

New York - Newburgh Ban the Box Law

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

New York - Rochester Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in the City of Rochester, you are covered by its Fair Employment Screening Law. This law is a “Ban the Box” law, and it only applies to the public sector. 
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Monroe
Munic field: Rochester

New York - Rockland County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Rockland County, you are covered under the Rockland Fair Chance in Employment Law. This law is a “Ban the Box” law and applies to employers in Rockland County with 15 or more employees.

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State field: New York

New York - Suffolk County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Suffolk County, you are covered by the Fair Employment Screening Law, which is a “Ban the Box” law. This applies to the public sector and any person, partnership, corporation, labor organization, not-for-profit organization, or association with 15 or more employees. 

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State field: New York

New York - Syracuse Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in the City of Syracuse, you are covered by the Syracuse Fair Employment and Licensure Ordinance. This ordinance is a “Ban the Box” ordinance and only applies to the public sector. 

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State field: New York
County field: Onondaga

New York - Tompkins County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a government agency in Tompkins County, you are covered by its Ban the Box law. This law only applies to the public sector.

Loc level field:
State field: New York
County field: Tompkins

New York - Ulster County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment at a county-wide government agency in Ulster County, you are covered by their Ban the Box law. This law only applies to the public sector. 

Loc level field:
State field: New York
County field: Ulster

New York - Westchester County Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Westchester County, you are covered by the Fair Chance to Work Act, which is a “Ban the Box” law. The law applies if you are applying to work for a government agency (except for law enforcement agencies) or a private sector employer.

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State field: New York
County field: Westchester

New York - Woodstock Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment with a government agency in the City of Woodstock, you are covered by its Ban the Box law. This law only applies to the public sector. 
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Ulster
Munic field: Woodstock

New York - Yonkers Ban the Box Law

If you are seeking employment in Yonkers, you are covered by Yonkers’ and Westchester County’s Ban the Box laws. Both the city-wide public and private sectors are covered. 
Loc level field: municipality
State field: New York
County field: Westchester
Munic field: Yonkers

Pennsylvania - Allegheny County Ban the Box Law

Allegheny County has a Ban the Box policy for County employment applications. The County does not inquire about criminal history until after it has made a conditional offer of employment. The county conducts background checks for specific positions and applies EEOC factors to evaluate an applicant's criminal history, taking into account relevant factors.

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State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Allegheny

Pennsylvania - Allentown Ban the Box Law

Allentown has a Ban the Box law that applies to applications for City employment. The City will not ask about your criminal history on job applications or during the interview process. The city inquires about a candidate's criminal history only after it has made a conditional offer of employment.

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Allentown

Pennsylvania - Beaver County Ban the Box Law

Beaver County has a Ban the Box policy for County job applications. The County will not ask about your criminal history on job applications. County agencies do not ask job applicants about their criminal histories until after the first interview, except for certain public safety positions.

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State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Beaver

Pennsylvania - Bethlehem Ban the Box Law

Bethlehem has a Ban the Box policy for City employees. The City does not ask about criminal history until the final stages of the hiring process. The city performs a background check only for job finalists. An individualized assessment is conducted using the EEOC factors when the city considers an applicant's criminal history.

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Bethlehem

Pennsylvania - Lancaster Ban the Box Law

The City of Lancaster has a "Ban the Box" hiring policy for its City employees. The City does not ask about criminal history on job applications or during the interview process. Lancaster conducts background checks only for job finalists. If a finalist has a criminal history, the city conducts an individualized assessment using the EEOC factors.

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Lancaster

Pennsylvania - Lehigh Ban the Box

Lehigh County

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania - Northhampton County Ban the Box Law

The County of Northampton has a Ban the Box policy for County jobs. It will not ask about your criminal history on job applications, except for law enforcement and positions that involve contact with "vulnerable populations" such as children or the elderly.

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State field: Pennsylvania
County field: Northhampton

Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Ban the Box Law

The City of Philadelphia has a Ban the Box policy for both city and private employers. An employer can conduct a background check only after it makes a conditional offer of employment.

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Philadelphia

Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Ban the Box Law

Pittsburgh has two Ban the Box laws, which apply to City employees and contractors.  The City cannot ask about your criminal history on job applications (excluding applications for the public safety sensitive positions of police officer, firefighter, paramedic, and school crossing guard).

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania - Reading Ban the Box Law

The City of Reading has a "Ban the Box" policy for its employees. It will only conduct a background check after it makes a conditional offer of employment.

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State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: Reading

Pennsylvania - York Ban the Box Law

The City of York has a Ban the Box hiring policy for City employees. The City will not ask about your criminal history on city job applications and encourages private employers in the city to do the same.

Loc level field:
State field: Pennsylvania
Munic field: York