Ban the Box laws are “fair chance” hiring policies that remove the checkbox asking applicants about criminal conviction history from initial job applications and delay inquiries into criminal records until later in the hiring process, often after an interview or conditional job offer. The goal is to encourage employers to assess candidates based on qualifications and skills first, helping people with criminal records compete more fairly for employment opportunities. 

These laws have been adopted in 37 states as well as many cities and counties across the U.S., though the exact requirements and timing for criminal history inquiries can vary significantly by jurisdiction. For employers, compliance can be challenging because the rules differ by location and may apply differently to public versus private sector hiring, so organizations operating in multiple states must carefully align their application workflows with each law.