Fair Chance Act ('ban the box' for federal hiring) becomes law (2019)
In December 2019 the United States enacted the Fair Chance Act as part of the annual defense authorization. In the causal graph this event strengthens Supranational rule-of-law accountability pressure, a driver that strengthens Judicial constraints on the executive (V-Dem, global country mean) — an improving welfare path.
Read the full account
In December 2019 the United States enacted the Fair Chance Act as part of the annual defense authorization. The law generally prohibits federal agencies and federal contractors from asking about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer, a 'ban the box' reform intended to reduce barriers to employment for people with records. Senator Cory Booker was a lead Senate sponsor of the measure, which built on similar policies adopted by many U.S. states and cities.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Cory Booker
PersonDirect responsibility
verified
Booker co-led a federal 'ban the box' reform reducing employment barriers for people with records; a documented reentry-focused fairness measure.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactFair Chance Act ('ban the box' for federal hiring) becomes law (2019)
- strengthensDriverSupranational rule-of-law accountability pressure
- strengthensIndicators (5)Judicial constraints on the executive (V-Dem, global country mean)
impact weight 0.25 · Effect from 20 December 2019 · verified
A reentry-oriented fairness reform reflects accountability pressure toward a justice system with fewer lifelong penalties; mapped to the closest available driver at modest weight.
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.14 (weight 0.25 × strength 0.55)
Observed
0.57 index score (0-1) · 0.23 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal125 readings, 1900–2024: rose from 0.5 index score (0-1) to 0.57 index score (0-1).
Above normal = better
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.12 (weight 0.25 × strength 0.47)
Observed
0.62 score from 0 to 1 · 0.25 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal125 readings, 1900–2024: rose from 0.37 score from 0 to 1 to 0.62 score from 0 to 1.
Above normal = better
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.11 (weight 0.25 × strength 0.45)
Observed
0.55 index score (0-1) · 0.26 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normalAbove normal = better
All indicators on this path (5)
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.08 (weight 0.25 × strength 0.33)
Observed
56.1 Score · 13.7 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal26 readings, 1996–2024: fell from 57 Score to 56.1 Score.
Above normal = better
- Better
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.06 (weight 0.25 × strength 0.25)
Observed
42.5 index score (0-100) · 7.53 below the normal line (2025)
Worse than normalAbove normal = better
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorCory Booker
- contributed toFactFair Chance Act ('ban the box' for federal hiring) becomes law (2019)
- strengthensDriverSupranational rule-of-law accountability pressure
- strengthensIndicatorJudicial constraints on the executive (V-Dem, global country mean)
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Fair Chance Act ('ban the box' for federal hiring) becomes law (2019). Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/justice-fact-fair-chance-act-2019
https://factrail.ai/facts/justice-fact-fair-chance-act-2019
Accessed 15 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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