Don't Ask, Don't Tell... If You're a Felon?

Tucker, who was recently laid off from a glass company because of the weak economy, said eliminating the criminal-history question would encourage more people to apply for jobs. But, he said, the policy will not solve the problem, noting that criminal background checks would still be conducted.

Shelton Tucker stands in the doorway in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 11. 2008. Tucker, who was laid off from his job with a glass company, says he has lost countless job opportunities because of his prison record. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

(AP)

"In a way it's just window dressing," Tucker said.

Cities that have dropped the question could not say how many convicts they have hired. Baltimore has had a hiring freeze since it banned the box nearly a year ago, officials said.

Proponents acknowledge that changing the application is not a panacea, but they insist it allows people with criminal records to get a foot in the door.

Cities are also creating standards for determining whether a criminal record is relevant to the job.

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In Chicago, where more than 20,000 inmates return from prison annually and two-thirds are arrested within three years, the city adopted a hiring policy to balance the nature and severity of the crime with other factors, such as the passage of time and evidence of rehabilitation.

San Francisco also considers factors such as the time elapsed since the conviction and evidence of rehabilitation.

Boston's job application starts with an anti-discrimination statement and lists "ex-offender status" as a classification protected under civil rights laws. The city only does criminal background checks for sensitive positions such as jobs with police, schools, and positions involving large amounts of money or unsupervised contact with children, the disabled and elderly.

Boston officials sent a letter in December requiring companies that do business with the city to comply with that policy.

"What are these folks going to do if they cannot work?" said Larry Mayes, chief of human services for Boston. "You're creating a permanent underclass."

In New Haven, the changes are part of a broader strategy to help convicts make successful transitions by offering them support with monthly assistance sessions and helping former inmates mentor each other.