A movement to $$ban the box$($i$.$e$.,$ prohibit employers from asking about criminal history on initial employment applications$)$ has gained momentum in recent years, with over $35$ states passing such a ban.$$ The primary rationale for $$ban the box$$ laws is to:

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Group of answer choices

$$ provide jobs for as many criminals as possible.

$$ steer people who may be attracted by a life of crime to gainful employment, by sending the message that society cares about them.

enable employers to make use of criminals$$ knowledge, skills, and abilities that they may not$$ otherwise have recognized.

prevent the screening out of candidates with prior criminal records, so that disparate impact against protected categories $($e$.$g$.,$ as in the Pepsi Bottling Co$.$ case$)$ does not occur.

$$ expand the labor pool in response to the extreme shortage of workers in nearly all areas of the economy $$