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Roanoke drops crime question from applications

By WTOP Staff

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Applicants for city jobs in Roanoke will no longer be required to divulge their criminal history.

City officials say Roanoke is joining 10 other Virginia localities in dropping the question from job applications.

Proponents of the “Ban the Box” movement say the question discriminates against ex-offenders trying to get their lives back on track. Defenders of the question counter that it’s a useful tool for employers to avoid the risks of hiring workers who could hurt their business or endanger other workers.

The Roanoke Times reports (http://bit.ly/1oVrUaJ ) that the change is being made without a formal vote by the city council.

Assistant City Manager Sherman Stovall says the city will continue to perform background checks on applicants.

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Information from: The Roanoke Times, http://www.roanoke.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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