Obama orders federal employers to ‘ban the box’

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) — Among a series of initiatives meant to help promote the reintegration of former prisoners, President Obama on Monday is expected to announce an executive order to prevent federal employers from asking about a potential employee’s criminal history.

Obama intends to order the Office of Personnel Management to change its rules to delay asking job seekers about their criminal post until later in the hiring process.

“While most agencies already have taken this step, this action will better ensure that applicants from all segments of society, including those with prior criminal histories, receive a fair opportunity to compete for federal employment,” the White House said.

The move is part of a growing “ban the box” campaign, in which advocates encourage businesses — not just the federal government — to avoid including a check box asking about criminal history on job applications.

“The campaign challenges the stereotypes of people with conviction histories by asking employers to choose their best candidates based on job skills and qualifications, not past convictions,” the Ban the Box Campaign’s website says. “Since one in four adults in the U.S. has a conviction history, the impact of this discrimination is widespread and affects other aspects of life in addition to employment opportunity.”

Obama is expected to speak about his directive to OPM on Monday in Newark, N.J., where he is scheduled to visit a residential facility for former prisoners and hold a roundtable discussion at Rutgers University.

The White House said Obama also will announce up to $8 million in grants from the Department of Education, public housing assistance, an expansion in tech training and establishing a National Clean Slate Clearinghouse for former prisoners.