Gov. Jay Nixon visited the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment to sign Executive Order 16-04, to lessen barriers to individuals with criminal histories attempting to enter the workforce, lower recidivism rates and improve public safety. The executive order will “ban the box” in state employment by placing questions relating to criminal history later in the hiring process in order to provide these applicants a fair opportunity to compete for jobs. The Governor’s executive order directs all departments, agencies and boards and commissions in the Executive Branch subject to the authority of the Governor to take all necessary action to amend initial employment applications by removing questions relating to an individual’s criminal history unless a criminal history would render an applicant specifically ineligible for the position.

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