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State Rep. hoping to 'Ban the Box' to make it easier for those convicted of crimes to find jobs

Posted at 5:15 PM, Feb 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-10 23:09:38-05

DENVER -- For many people looking for a job, the search ends as soon as they fill out the initial application.

That's because they have to check the box saying they have a criminal history which often means their application goes straight to the trash can. That can be devastating for those with minor offenses in their past or those trying to turn their lives around.

State Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, has proposed a bill that would ban employers from including that box on that first application. On this week's Politics Unplugged, she tells Anne Trujillo her bill would still allow employers to check on criminal history later in the process, but the goal is to get people through those initial stages of getting a job first so that potential employers get a better idea of who they are.

Politics Unplugged airs Sundays at 4:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Denver7 and at noon on K3-KCDO.