In an effort to provide fair employment opportunities for ex-convicts, Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson has “banned the box” from City of Cleveland job and civil service testing applications by removing the checkbox used by job applicants to indicate whether or not they have felony convictions, according to a press release on the city’s website. Cleveland is now one of only 28 cities/counties across the country to “ban the box.” (more…)

A new state audit in Texas has revealed that gaps in the state’s criminal records database may cause criminal background checks used to screen job applicants – including teachers, doctors, nurses and daycare employees – to fail to uncover arrest records, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The audit also found that the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) Computerized Criminal History System is an unreliable source for complete information and that DPS should improve the timeliness and accuracy of its data. (more…)

A recently released study examining the use of drug testing programs by employers conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and commissioned by the Drug and Alcohol Testing Association (DATIA) found that more than half of employers (57 percent) conduct drug tests on all job candidates. (more…)

While the practice of employers in most industries performing background checks on job applicants is common these days, just how prevalent employment background screening has become is evidenced by a story from KRGV ABC Channel 5 News in Rio Grande Valley, Texas in which an Edinburg, TX man was accused of conducting background checks for a drug trafficking organization by checking criminal history and driver’s license information for people being considered as drivers for drug traffickers. (more…)

Background Screening Industry Veteran Brad Landin Named President while Employment Screening Resources (ESR) Founder Attorney Les Rosen Retains Title of CEO.

Novato, CA — Employment Screening Resources (ESR), a nationwide background check company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area and accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®), has expanded its management team and named Brad Landin as President. In his new role, Landin will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s strategy, operations, and finances. ESR’s founder Attorney Les Rosen, who will retain the title of Chief Executive Officer, made the announcement. (more…)