State No Longer Allowed To Ask Applicants About Crime

Oct 9, 2013 6:50 AM

Governor Quinn has ordered all state agencies to stop asking job applicants if they’ve been convicted of a crime. In fact, the question will be removed entirely from all state government applications. State Representative LaShawn Ford says that’s the best way to keep down confusion in the long run.

Representative Ford says people with a criminal past deserve a second chance.

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Some have criticized the move, claiming it makes the state vulnerable, but Ford says it actually protects the state.

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Stats show that employers typically toss out the applications of those who admitted to committing a crime. Many of those applicants are African-American. Supporters of the "Ban the Box" movement say it’ll even the playing field for everyone who’s looking for work. It’s important to note that private employers in Illinois are not required to stop asking applicants about their criminal pasts.