Risk Aversion and the Impact of Criminal Records in Hiring Decisions: An Integrative Multilevel Review

Employers seek information about applicants’ criminal history to minimize the risk of employee misconduct, reputational threats, and liability for negligent hiring. Perceptions of these risks may be flawed, however, and criminal offense records are often given more weight in hiring decisions than they merit. This chapter examines employer-side factors at the individual, organizational, and societal levels that influence the use and evaluation of criminal history reports. We identify macro-level trends in staffing and selection, such as algorithmic management and continuous screening, that shape the practical impact of criminal histories and deserve greater research attention.