Applying for a job can be a stressful process. There are a lot of questions on that application and you want to make sure that you answer all the questions truthfully.

There are some questions that are simply harder to answer than others. Regardless, you cannot ignore them. One question in particular that appears on most, if not all, job applications is this: “have you ever been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime?” If you answer yes to this question, the likely result is your application will be disregarded. You won’t be interviewed. You simply won’t be considered for the job. And this is despite the fact that you may be perfectly qualified or your arrest or conviction has not one iota of a connection to the job for which you’re applying.

Indeed, this question does not take into account whether you were exonerated for the crime and deemed innocent. Often times, this question alone discourages many from completing the application.

Colorado Chance to Compete — House Bill-1025 — (sometimes referred to as “ban the box”) addresses this issue and does so in a moderate and measured way. This bill is an important criminal justice reform initiative and makes good economic sense. It simply says that businesses cannot ask this question on the application but can do so later in the interview process. The bill creates no private right of action and recognizes that in certain limited situations, this question may be relevant. This bill acknowledges that not every offender should be employed, but gives them the chance at full consideration for any job for which they are qualified.

Approximately 25 states and hundreds of municipalities across the country have passed similar laws and the outcomes have been positive. For example, the red state of Georgia passed a similar chance to compete law and saw a reduction in crime simply by putting people with a criminal record to work. Simply stated, work and contributing to community reduces recidivism. Here’s another significant statistic: 96 percent of ex-offenders when trained into skilled jobs succeed. They don’t re-offend. The greatest influence on reducing recidivism is employment.

Perhaps due to these possible outcomes, the issue is not a partisan one. The Koch Brothers recently joined corporate conglomerates like Target, Home Depot, Google and Starbucks in eliminating that question from its job applications and has encouraged others to follow suit.

No one wants to admit to the worst act they ever committed and certainly not when they have no opportunity to explain or present themselves for who they are today. This bill applies to those that have served their time and are struggling to re-enter their communities and make ends meet.

Colorado Chance to Compete doesn’t eliminate entirely the possibility for an employer to know the criminal background of an applicant. It simply delays the timing of that question. Checking the box at the initial phase tells you nothing about the person applying for the job, but a conversation with the applicant further down the application process can say a lot. Remember, they have done their time. Paid their debt. Allowing one to tell their own compelling and unique story says a lot more about a person than a checkbox. Give that person a chance. That’s all this bill asks. It is time to ban the box.

Leslie Herod Represents Colorado’s House District 8 and serves as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

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