Box Forms Criminal Eslpod Ban People Request Organizations

Many companies require that "job applicants" (people who are asking for a job) "fill out" (complete with information) "application forms" (pieces of paper that request information). These forms request basic information about the applicants, their education and experience, and their interest in the "opening" (the available job). Many of these forms include a "checkbox" (a small box that one places a checkmark in, like this þ, to indicate a positive response) next to a phrase like "Do you have a criminal record?"

Many nonprofit organizations that "advocate for" (publicly support) "ex-offenders" (people who have committed a crime in the past, but are now out of prison or jail) argue that "the box" (the checkbox indicating whether an applicant has a criminal record) is unfair and "discriminatory" (treating one group of people differently than others). They argue that asking this question on the application form puts ex-offenders "at a disadvantage" (having greater obstacles or challenges than others) and makes it less likely for them to get a job, which also makes them more likely to "return to a life of crime" (continue breaking the law).

Many of these organizations are working together to encourage cities and states to "enact" (make into law) Ban the Box laws, which would "forbid" (not allow) application forms to ask about an applicant's criminal record. As of the summer of 2015, 18 states and 52 cities had enacted "such" (this kind of) laws, although they do "make exceptions" (state that something does not apply) for job positions that involve working with children.