Ban the Box

In 2006, All of Us or None petitioned the county and the city of Los Angeles to remove the box on their employment applications asking whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime, which may have the added benefit, if adopted, of ensuring the constitutionality of their employment policies. The "Fair Employment Resolution" was introduced with an overwheliming support from many community-based organizations, but was later withdrawn for lack of political support at the county government level, as documented in the LA County Board of Supervisors' Meeting Memos dated 4/25/2006 and 9/5/2006.

At the city level, the Resolution was sponsored by councilmembers, Jan Perry, Eric Garcetti, and Bill Rosendahl. However, the Resolution died in 2007 in the Personnel Committee, chaired by Dennis Zine, who proposed amending it to require FBI background check of every single job applicant to the city.

Relevant Statistics & Student Research

Over time, students of the PRI collected a number of statistical data relevant to the constitutional analysis of the city's employment policy. In addition, a survey of 30 major cities across the nation was conducted to see whether any city, comparable in size to Los Angeles, requires a routine FBI background check as part of employment process.

• Work Force Analysis Report No. 7: Job Category Totals for Full-Time Employee As of 6/24/2006
• Number of Applicants by Race/Ethnicity for FY 2006-07*
• Number of Persons on Eligible List by Race/Ethnicity for FY 2006-07*
• Number of Applicants Disqualified Based On Criminal History by Race/Ethnicity for FY 2006-07*
• Major Cities and FBI Background Check (July, 2007)

* Unofficial data from the City's Personnel Department compiled in July, 2007