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'Ban the Box' measures help high-crime neighborhoods

Author

Listed:
  • Stan Veuger

    (American Enterprise Institute)

  • Daniel Shoag

Abstract

A sizable number of localities have in recent years limited the use of criminal background checks in hiring decisions, or "banned the box." Using LEHD Origin-Destination Employment and American Community Survey data, we show that these bans increased employment of residents in high-crime neighborhoods by as much as 4%. These increases are particularly large in the public sector. At the same time, we establish using job postings data that employers respond to ban-the-box measures by raising experience requirements. A perhaps unintended consequence of this is that women, who are less likely to be convicted of crimes, see their employment opportunities reduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Stan Veuger & Daniel Shoag, 2019. "'Ban the Box' measures help high-crime neighborhoods," AEI Economics Working Papers 880075, American Enterprise Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:aei:rpaper:880075
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Devah Pager & Bruce Western & Naomi Sugie, 2009. "Sequencing Disadvantage: Barriers to Employment Facing Young Black and White Men with Criminal Records," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 623(1), pages 195-213, May.
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    7. McCauley, E.J., 2017. "The cumulative probability of arrest by age 28 years in the United States by disability status, race/ethnicity, and gender," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(12), pages 1977-1981.
    8. Terry‐Ann Craigie, 2020. "Ban The Box, Convictions, And Public Employment," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(1), pages 425-445, January.
    9. Holzer, Harry J & Raphael, Steven & Stoll, Michael A, 2006. "Perceived Criminality, Criminal Background Checks, and the Racial Hiring Practices of Employers," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 49(2), pages 451-480, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Kaestner, Robert & Wang, Xufei, 2024. "Ban-the-box laws: Fair and effective?," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    4. Burton, Anne M. & Wasser, David N., 2025. "Revisiting the unintended consequences of Ban the Box," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    5. 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.

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