For James Butler III, the little box on job applications looms large: Have you ever been convicted of a felony? The machinist from Hartford, convicted nearly a decade ago of drug and weapon charges, says he rarely hears back from employers when he checks the dreaded box. Read more…

A new ruling by the state Supreme Court aims to protect the identities of criminal by limiting information the public can access in background searches and court records. Pat Davis with the Bernalillo County district attorney’s office explains researching someone’s criminal history will become difficult, especially if the subject has a common name. Read more…