After years of abortive efforts, the D.C. Council voted to give job applicants with criminal records new protections against discrimination from potential employers. On a 12-to-1 vote, lawmakers gave initial approval to the Fair Criminal Record Screening Act – known to its proponents as “ban the box” – which restricts when employers can check a job applicant’s criminal background. The new bill, introduced by Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), places new curbs on when during the hiring process an employer can check an applicant’s criminal background, thus banning the practice of screening applicants based on their criminal records.

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