Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law a bill that will bar public employers from including questions on job applications concerning an applicant’s criminal background.The signing of the “ban the box” vote comes amid growing national concern that the job application check box about a person’s criminal history can deter offenders from seeking jobs and can cause employers to miss out on qualified workers.Under the bill, a public employer would still be allowed to do a background check and reject applicants with recent or relevant offenses. But the record check gets done later in the process, usually after an interview.The bill does not apply to people seeking private employment.This reform has been embraced for striking balance between maintaining public safety, expanding job opportunities and reaffirming individuals’ redemption.

Read more