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The City of San Antonio recently joined the Ban the Box movement. Applications for city jobs will not ask if the applicant has a criminal conviction.

About Ban the Box

Many job applications include a section that asks whether or not the applicant has a criminal record. Applicants are expected to check that box if they have any type of conviction. People who do are unlikely to receive further consideration.

The Ban the Box movement calls for the removal of this question from job applications. It is intended to help people who are unable to find employment because they have minor or irrelevant records. This concept has been adopted by more than 150 cities in 24 states.

How the Box Affects Applicants

Millions of Americans have criminal records. Many are for minor infractions that would not impact the person's ability to land a job. However, when a job application shows a person has a record, employers are likely to reject the applicant without further review. Job seekers may not have a chance at employment when they are asked to check this box.

Removing the box offers more opportunities to applicants with minor records. Employers will learn about the person and their qualification before learning about the record. Then they will see specific details about the case and conviction, which helps them make informed decisions. This also helps people get work when they might have otherwise been rejected immediately.

How This Will Impact San Antonio

Removing the box is likely to result in many more people seeking city jobs. Individuals who previously would not apply may be willing to try now. They'll know that they won't be disqualified before they can get a foot in the door.

City employers will still have the ability to learn about an applicant's records by ordering a criminal background check. Before they do, they will have reviewed the person's resume, conducted an interview and formed an opinion about their ability to handle the job duties. At this point, the employer will have the facts they need to make fair and educated hiring decisions.

The Private Sector

At the moment, the box is only being banned from city job applications. However, there are expectations that this will soon spread to private employers. The person who suggested that the city adopt the Ban the Box concept was Councilman Rey Saldaña. During an interview with a local paper, he explained that this was a first step.

Saldaña commented that the box creates a "Barrier of entry toward opportunity for a lot of community members who have paid down their debt to society and are simply trying to lift themselves up." While not everyone agrees with this assessment, and some feel it could be a liability to the city, there is an effort to institute Ban the Box laws throughout San Antonio.

Applicants Are Looking for Opportunities

A 2012 study of criminal rates in Texas indicated that 11.8 million residents have a criminal record. That's more than 40% of the Lone Star State's population. Proponents of the Ban the Box movement believe that the policy will open doors for many residents who simply need a second chance and stable employment.

The concept of banning the criminal records box was first established in the late 1990's. It has been gaining momentum in recent years. As more locations adopt the Ban the Box concept, employers must be aware of and comply with this regulation. Backgrounds Online continues to watch for news about the movement and endeavors to educate our visitors on the latest developments. Watch this blog for stories related to the Ban the Box movement and other topics that impact hiring and screening policies.