The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to hold a public meeting on arrest and conviction records as a barrier to hiring. The meeting will take place July 26 at EEOC headquarters in Washington D.C.

Separately, an issue over employers checking on criminal backgrounds recently surfaced in Philadelphia. The mayor on April 18 signed an ordinance prohibiting an employer from asking job candidates about their criminal backgrounds on job applications. Employers can only inquire into criminal backgrounds after an initial interview.