The "ban the box" legislation in Minnesota and Wisconsin has left many employers at a loss over how to check out job candidates' possible criminal histories.
With the legislation, job applicants no longer can be asked on job applications if they've ever been convicted of a crime or incarcerated. It prevents employers from asking about criminal records until an actual job interview or until they're close to offering the applicant a job.
To help employers understand the proper way to conduct background checks and how to read criminal records, a crash course is being held from 1-3 p.m. Thursday at the Minnesota WorkForce Center in downtown
Duluth.
Emily Baxter, director of public policy and advocacy at the Council on Crime and Justice, will lead the session. She'll go over the "do's and don'ts" for employers, including pertinent laws, how to read a criminal record, trends in the criminal justice system, expungements, pardons and more.
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In her job, Baxter is responsible for developing and implementing the council's public policy agenda. She also is responsible for its services for former offenders and working with employers to encourage the hiring of people with criminal records to reduce recidivism.
The session -- which is for employers only -- will be held at the WorkForce Center at 402 W. First St. Sign up by calling (218) 302-8406 or by emailing: rhonda.rutford@state.mn.us . Space is limited to about 30 people.
