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.
Under this law, an employer cannot ask you about your criminal conviction history before your first interview. The law also requires an employer to disclose to you whether a criminal background check will be conducted before you begin work.
Suffolk’s Fair Employment Screening Law does have a few exceptions. If you decide to apply for any of the following jobs, an employer is allowed to ask about your conviction history earlier in the application process. These jobs include the Fire Department, the Police Department, private and public-school positions, and positions requiring you to care for vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly.