Cincinnati enacts Fair Hiring Policy for city workers

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - The Cincinnati City Council unanimously passed a motion Wednesday that no longer requires criminal background checks for new city employees.

Cincinnati's new Fair Hiring Policy says that applicants for city jobs will no longer be asked to submit a criminal background check until they are determined to be qualified for the position.

Then, if the subsequent background check reveals a felony conviction, the applicant will not be automatically disqualified from employment. Instead, the Human Resources Department will consider the relevance of the criminal investigation using the following factors:

• Whether the offense directly relates to the responsibilities of the applied for position.
• The nature and severity of the offense.
• The age of the applicant at the time of the offense.
• How old the offense is.
• How long the person has lived while not incarcerated or under correctional supervision without having any new convictions.
• Any evidence demonstrating the applicant's rehabilitation.

The Fair Hiring Policy follows three years of advocacy on behalf of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. According to a statement from the David A. Singleton, Executive Director, "Not only is it morally right to give second chances to those who deserve them, but it also makes sense from a public safety standpoint."

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