Report · Politics

Most would let employers weigh criminal history in hiring, with limits

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Employers' use of criminal history in hiring divides Americans mostly over when it should be allowed, not whether. In a January 2024 Verasight survey, 88% say employers should be able to consider an applicant's record in at least some circumstances, including 30% who say they should always be able to.

A combined 58% would set conditions: 29% would let employers use criminal history only for certain crimes, and 29% only when the crime is relevant to the position. Just 12% say employers should not be able to use it at all.

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Most would let employers weigh criminal history in hiring, with limits.

As you may know, while "ban the box" legislation prohibits employers from asking about a criminal record on initial application forms in some states, a person's criminal history is routinely used in determining employment eligibility. Which of the following comes closest to your views on this issue?

  • Employers should always be able to consider criminal history in making hiring decisions 29.9%
  • Employers should only be able to use criminal history in making hiring decisions for certain crimes. 28.9%
  • Employers should only be able to use criminal history in making hiring decision if the crime is relevant to the position. 28.8%
  • Employers should not be able to use criminal history at all in making hiring decisions. 12.4%

2024 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.5%

Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006

Source report pending

Methodology

Source report pending
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2024-01-18 → 2024-01-24
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.5%
Module
Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006

Source

  • 01
    Source report pending

Citation

Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006, fielded January 18-24, 2024, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.

Source report pending

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. When a wave report is published, its field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
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Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

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