A bill making it unlawful for employees to question applicants about having a felony on their record has been approved. The 'Ban-the-Box' bill hopes to increase employment opportunities for applicants with prior convictions. Democratic Senator A. Donald McEachin (Richmond, VA) was one of many in support of the bill. "This legislation means that a state employee applicant will not be kicked out simply because he has to check the box saying he had a prior conviction. If qualified for a position and granted an interview, he will then have the opportunity to explain his history and the interviewer can make a reasoned judgment", McEachin wrote in a press release. Employees can still do background checks on prospective employees, but with the new legislation, applicants won't have to check whether or not they have previous convictions. Richmond, Virginia joins five other cities in Virginia: New Port News, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Portsmouth, in support of...
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