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Ban-the-Box Measures Help High-Crime Neighborhoods

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  • Daniel Shoag
  • Stan Veuger

Abstract

Many localities have in recent years regulated the use of questions about criminal history in hiring, or “banned the box.” We show that these regulations increased employment of residents in high-crime neighborhoods by up to 4 percent, consistent with the central objective of these measures. This effect can be seen in both aggregate employment patterns for high-crime neighborhoods and commuting patterns to workplace destinations with this type of ban. The increases are particularly large in the public sector and in lower-wage jobs. This is the first nationwide evidence that these policies do indeed increase employment opportunities in neighborhoods with many ex-offenders.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Shoag & Stan Veuger, 2021. "Ban-the-Box Measures Help High-Crime Neighborhoods," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 64(1), pages 85-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/711367
    DOI: 10.1086/711367
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Clifford & Daniel Shoag, 2016. "“No more credit score”: employer credit check bans and signal substitution," Working Papers 16-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    2. Matthew R. Graham & Mark J. Kutzbach & Brian McKenzie, 2014. "Design Comparison of LODES and ACS Commuting Data Products," Working Papers 14-38, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cody Tuttle, 2019. "Snapping Back: Food Stamp Bans and Criminal Recidivism," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 301-327, May.
    2. Burton, Anne M. & Wasser, David N., 2025. "Revisiting the unintended consequences of Ban the Box," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    3. Osborne Jackson & Riley Sullivan & Bo Zhao, 2017. "Reintegrating the ex-offender population in the U.S. labor market: lessons from the CORI Reform in Massachusetts," New England Public Policy Center Research Report 17-1, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    4. Lundberg, Alexander & Mungan, Murat, 2022. "The effect of evidentiary rules on conviction rates," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 563-576.
    5. Kaestner, Robert & Wang, Xufei, 2024. "Ban-the-box laws: Fair and effective?," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).

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