Today, many written employment applications for jobs in Massachusetts have a box for applicants to check if they have been convicted of a crime. Beginning November 4, 2010, Massachusetts joins a growing list of “ban the box” states to prohibit most employers from requesting criminal offender record information on any initial written employment application. This “ban the box” provision was enacted as part of legislation overhauling the Commonwealth’s Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) laws, and is intended to provide greater employment opportunities to rehabilitated offenders who may not get past the initial application stage if they are required to “check the box.” This provision amends the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Law, M.G.L. c 151B §4, and applies to both public and private employers.