Civil Rights Commission to Hold Hearing on Impact of Criminal Background Checks on Minorities

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights said Nov. 29 it will hold a hearing Dec. 7 on the impact of criminal background checks on minority groups.

The official title of the hearing, according to the Federal Register, is “Assessing the Impact of Criminal Background Checks and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Conviction Records Policy on the Employment of Black and Hispanic Workers.”

Three panels are scheduled at the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. hearing, which is open to the public. They will feature speakers from government officials and scholars; business and advocacy groups and trade associations.

The hearing will be held at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1150, in Washington, D.C.

For further information, contact Lenore Ostrowsky, acting chief, public affairs unit, at 202-376-8591.

Employers have been advised against having a blanket exclusion on hiring people with criminal background checks in response to EEOC guidance on background checks issued in April.

Judy Greenwald writes for Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. Comment below or email editors@workforce.com.

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