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Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act (Ban the Box)

An employer or employment agency may not inquire about or into, consider, or require disclosure of the criminal record or criminal history of an applicant until the applicant has been determined qualified for the position and notified that the applicant has been selected for an interview by the employer or employment agency or, if there is not an interview, until after a conditional offer of employment is made to the applicant by the employer or employment agency.

The requirements do not apply for positions where:

  1. employers are required to exclude applicants with certain criminal convictions from employment due to federal or State law;
  2. a standard fidelity bond or an equivalent bond is required and an applicant's conviction of one or more specified criminal offenses would disqualify the applicant from obtaining such a bond, in which case an employer may include a question or otherwise inquire whether the applicant has ever been convicted of any of those offenses; or
  3. employers employ individuals licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

This does not prohibit an employer from notifying applicants in writing of the specific offenses that will disqualify an applicant from employment in a particular position due to federal or State law or the employer's policy.​

Contact

  • Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Information: (312) 793-7191
  • Email: DOL.BTB@Illinois.gov

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