Spokane Mayor David Condon said the city would join a nationwide trend to “ban the box” and no longer ask city job applicants about their criminal background. Condon said revising the city’s employment application would open “another pathway to access” for people with criminal pasts and give them “more equal footing for meaningful employment.” With the move, Spokane joins almost 70 other cities and counties in choosing to ignore an applicant’s criminal history if it doesn’t pertain to the job at hand. The decision, which does not require City Council approval, is headed to the city’s human resources department and independent Civil Service Commission for review.

Read more