Criminal record checking and employment: The importance of policy and proximity

Government regulation requiring employers to run criminal background checks and implementing other barriers to employment for people with criminal records often have more influence on hiring practices compared to regulation promoting equitable access to employment or personal beliefs about inclusion. Using surveys and interviews with employers, this Australian study attempted to shed light on why employers use criminal record checks, considering the influence of government policy and proximity to people with criminal records on their hiring practices. They found that policy/regulation is the main reason employers conduct record checks, in addition to their concerns about reputation and providing a safe work environment.

Heydon, G., & Naylor, B. (2018). Criminal record checking and employment: The importance of policy and proximity. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 51(3), 372–394. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004865817723410