Showing Posts In "Criminal Records" Category

Washington’s Amended Fair Chance Act Will Impose Additional Obligations on Covered Employers

Washington State’s amended Fair Chance Act, effective July 1, 2026, introduces significant changes for employers regarding criminal background checks. Employers must now wait until after extending a conditional job offer before inquiring about criminal history. They are prohibited from taking adverse actions based solely on arrest records or juvenile convictions. If considering an adverse action […]

Washington Overhauls Employment Laws on Reductions in Force and Background Checks

Washington State has enacted significant changes to its employment laws, effective July 27, 2025. The new “mini-WARN” Act requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs or business closures, aligning with federal standards but with stricter provisions. Additionally, amendments to the Fair Chance Act, effective July 1, 2026, […]

Rep. Cammack Introduces Resolution Requiring Background Checks for House Employees

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) introduced a resolution requiring criminal background checks and foreign influence disclosures for all U.S. House employees, a measure currently not mandated. The resolution aims to enhance security, promote transparency regarding dual citizenship and financial ties, and establish uniform standards across all offices. Cammack emphasized that protecting the People’s House begins with […]

Minneapolis and Washington State Impose ‘Fair Chance’ Requirements on Employers That Consider Criminal History

Minneapolis and Washington State have expanded fair‑chance laws to restrict how employers use criminal history in hiring and employment actions. Starting Aug. 1, 2025, Minneapolis bars employers from making decisions based on “justice‑impacted status” unless they can justify it with a six‑factor individualized assessment. Washington’s amended law, effective July 1, 2026 (for large employers; smaller ones by […]

Black Workers Sue Walmart, Alleging Discriminatory Background Check Practices

A new class‑action lawsuit alleges Walmart’s criminal background check policy disproportionately excludes Black and Latinx job applicants, even when convictions are old or unrelated to the role. The complaint argues the company applies broad, centralized screening without assessing rehabilitation, mitigating circumstances, or job relevance. One plaintiff reportedly completed internships and had supervisor endorsements yet still […]

Minnesota Department of Education to Strengthen Hiring Practices — After Alpha News Reports

A convicted sex offender was previously employed in a high-ranking auditing role at Minnesota’s Department of Education, sparking controversy. After the hire was revealed, the department dismissed him and pledged new safeguards. Effective immediately, all new hires must undergo criminal background checks, with enhanced policies in development to protect student data and sensitive operations. Officials […]

Clean Slate Law: Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records

Clean slate laws help individuals move forward by automatically expunging eligible criminal records without requiring petitions. These laws, adopted by several states, typically apply to nonviolent misdemeanors and select felonies, reducing barriers to employment, housing, and education. Automatic expungement simplifies record clearance, ensuring individuals benefit without navigating complex legal processes. By fostering reintegration, clean slate […]

Employers Guide to U.S. Criminal Record Checks

Conducting comprehensive criminal record checks can provide crucial insights into a candidate’s history and help support more informed hiring decisions. Learn more about the diverse options available and practical considerations for implementation in a background screening program.

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The Impact of Bad Data on the Background Checking Process

A recent study on criminal records cast doubt on the accuracy of the information that background-checking firms are providing to employers. The research analyzed criminal records comparing official state reports and two private-sector background checks sources. Based on the analysis, private-sector background checks are laden with false-positive and false-negative errors, mismatched data that create false […]

Navigating the Legal Tides: Screening Job Candidates with Criminal Histories

Employers are permitted to ask questions about an applicant or employee’s background or to require a background check, but it is important to comply with federal laws that protect applicants and employees from discrimination, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Ban the Box laws. Decisions cannot be made based on race, national […]