Many job seekers worldwide have had their employment applications thwarted by a simple checkbox question: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”

At the urging of equal rights groups, many governments and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic have been implementing so-called “ban-the-box” policies to remove this controversial question from job applications. In doing so there is hope of helping those convicted of crimes reintegrate into society, reduce recidivism, and improve workplace diversity.