[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Council approves Ban the Box

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lelande Rehard
City Manager’s Office
(573) 874-7218 


Council approves ‘Ban the Box’ 

COLUMBIA, MO (December 2, 2014) - During the Dec. 1 council meeting, the Columbia City Council passed agenda item B328-14 amending Chapter 12 of the City Code. The amendments create “Ban the Box” legislation for the City of Columbia. Ban the Box legislation aims to remove barriers to employment for ex-offenders returning to society. Ex-offenders who find full-time employment are 30 percent less likely to return to prison. The amendments prohibit all employers in Columbia from asking job applicants about their criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.


*There can be no questions about an applicant’s criminal history on an application.

*Questions cannot be asked about an applicant’s criminal history during an interview. 

*No other inquiry into a person’s criminal history can be done until after a conditional job offer has been made.


Certain jobs are exempt as required by federal and state statutes. The amendments also encourage employers to consider the severity of the offense, time since the offense and rehabilitation efforts since the offense for applicants that are found to have a record after the conditional job offer has been made.

Enforcement of the ordinance is handled by the Human Rights Commission. Details concerning how to file a complaint with the commission and the process can be found at: https://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Human_Rights/. The goal of the commission is to address complaints via mediation, not prosecution. More information will be available on the Human Rights Web page soon. 



This release has the following attachments:

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=858



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