Governor’s Pardon on Cannabis Convictions in Maryland: Background Check Changes

Governor Wes Moore’s mass pardon of 175,000 cannabis convictions in Maryland aims to address the social and economic injustice caused by these criminal records.

Debunking Myths: The Real Impact of Misdemeanors and Criminal Records on Employment Opportunities

A criminal record can be life-altering, even if the arrest and resulting conviction only concern a minor crime. For many years and even today, a record can be a barrier to employment, to housing, and to many other opportunities. Naturally, therefore, many people have serious concerns about what an employer will consider during the hiring process. As a result, there are many misconceptions about misdemeanors and criminal records—misconceptions that persist even in otherwise savvy HR departments.

Why Context Matters: Hiring Applicants With a History of Misdemeanors and Criminal Records

A background check that doesn’t come back “clean” can be an immediate concern for many employers. Often, the presence of misdemeanors and other criminal records immediately recolors what a recruiter or hiring manager thinks of a candidate. The problem is so serious that even the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has had to publish guidelines specifying that blanket bans on applicants with records aren’t legal. Even so, many barriers remain, hence the growth of “ban the box” laws and other efforts to restore fairness.