Pennsylvania ‘bans the box’ on state employee applications

Fair-Chance hiring policy for state agencies that will remove the criminal conviction question, ‘banning the box’, from non-civil service employment applications for agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction. “We have a robust system of supervision and rehabilitative services that gives reentrants to the community all the tools they need to put their lives back on track, get the skills they need to get a job, and get moving again. But too often, one small checkmark can jeopardize the future that we all need them to pursue and reach,” Governor Wolf said. “Banning the box will allow prospective applicants with criminal records to be judged on their skills and qualifications and not solely on their criminal history, while preserving a hiring agency’s ability to appropriately screen applicants as part of the hiring process.” Exceptions to the policy will be made for positions where a criminal conviction makes an applicant ineligible under law and for positions responsible for the safeguarding or security of people or property, law enforcement or those involving contact with vulnerable populations. The new policy will take effect July 1, 2017. The Office of Administration will provide guidance and training to agencies prior to the implementation of the policy, and anticipates that the policy will be applied to civil service applicants by December 2017.]]>