Ban-the-box (BTB) laws prevent employers from asking about criminal histories on job applications. The intent is to reduce the effects of mass incarceration on employment opportunities, especially for those most affected by it – black men. New research by Amanda Agan and Sonja Starr, however, finds that the race gap in applicant callbacks grew dramatically at BTB-affected companies after the policy went into effect. They say: “Our results confirm that criminal records are a major barrier to employment, but they also support the concern that BTB policies encourage statistical discrimination on the basis of race.”

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