Many businesses mistakenly believe that the FBI database is the “gold standard” for identifying those with criminal records. But, the FBI database only includes criminal records that have a fingerprint associated with them, and many from the state or county level do…
Posts by Category: Criminal History Check
Background Screening Companies May Now Report Convictions Older Than Seven Years In Nevada
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), background screening companies (or consumer reporting agencies) are generally prohibited from reporting certain types of derogatory information that the FCRA considers to be too old to be useful, i.e., obsolete. The…
U.S. Lawsuit Claims Companies Illegally Refused to Hire Ex-Cons
In a state court in Manhattan, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sued a class of companies it said were breaking city and state laws that bar businesses from refusing to consider former convicts for jobs. Since New York’s…
Oregon Governor Signs “Ban the Box” Legislation
Legislation restricting employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal background during the initial stages of the application process has been signed into law by Governor Kate Brown on June 26, 2015. The “Ban the Box†law, H.B. 3025, will take effect on…
Update on Certainty in Enforcement Act of 2015; H.R.548 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
All Bill Information (Except Text) Amends equal employment opportunity requirements under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to deem an employer’s, labor organization’s, employment agency’s, or joint labor management committee’s consideration or use…
Ohio ‘Bans the Box’ on State Applications
Starting June 1, criminal offenders in Ohio will no longer have to check a box requiring them to reveal past convictions on state civil service job applications. Questions regarding prior convictions will be removed from thousands of applications for state government…
New York City Passes Ban-the-Box Legislation Affecting Private Employers
On June 10, 2015, the New York City Council passed the NYC Fair Chance Act (the Act) in a landslide vote. The Act amends the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) to prohibit private employers in New York City with four or more employees from inquiring into or…
Felons Barred From Constructing Apple’s Campus
Apple is known for being secretive and picky about who works on its popular devices, but now, union officials say, that thinking also applies to the construction workers. Several construction workers who were hired to build the exterior of Apple’s new campus…
It May Not be a Matter of ‘If,’ but ‘When’ for Private Employers in the Commonwealth – Virginia ‘Bans the Box’ for Many State Employment Applications
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has issued Executive Order #41, thereby adding Virginia to the growing list of jurisdictions (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey,…
Lessons on Work-Related Fraud and Abuse
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners recently released its 2014 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse (the “Report”), which provides interesting statistics and insights for HR professionals hoping to better understand and combat…




