No Criminal Question On Job Forms?

PHILADELPHIA - Should job applications not ask if you've ever been convicted of a crime? A Philadelphia lawmaker wants such questions stricken from all new forms.

Community activists are getting behind a Philadelphia councilwoman Donna Lee Miller, who's trying to make it easier for ex-convicts to find work.

The campaign is called "Ban The Box." Rhe "box" in question is found on a standard job application, where it asks, "have you ever been convicted of a crime? check the box: yes / no."

On Thursday, activists and former convicts gathered in Philadelphia to show support for legislation introduced by city councilwoman donna reed miller.

Miller's bill would force most city employers to remove that question from the standard job application form.

Only after a conditional job offer was made, could an employer check for past convictions by using state police records.

"Our goal is to guarantee the 300,000, and rising, formerly convicted people in Philadelphia get fair interviews for employment," says Wayne Jacobs, Executive Director. "Over twenty cities, including Boston and Washington, D.C., have already passed legislation to ban the box; we are calling for Philadelphia to do the same."