Boston City Council Reviews Stricter Background Check Policies

Boston, September 24, 2025

News Summary

The Boston City Council is evaluating stricter criminal background checks for city employees following alarming incidents involving two workers. The council is examining how background checks are applied to roles that interact with the public, particularly children. This decision comes after a city worker’s arrest and the exposure of another as a Level Three sex offender. Councilors are seeking a balance between community safety and support for those with criminal records, and they plan to hold an Emergency Hearing to expedite policy revisions.

Boston

The Boston City Council is considering stricter criminal background checks for city workers after recent incidents involving two employees raised concerns about safety and hiring practices. The Council discussed potentially changing which jobs require criminal background checks, with a focus on positions that involve interaction with the public and vulnerable populations, particularly children.

Latest developments

Council members and city officials convened a hearing to review current policies after one city worker was arrested and another was revealed by a report to be a Level Three sex offender. The first incident involved a city worker, Nasiru Ibrahim, who was arrested for having tinted windows and attempting to flee from police while possessing an illegal pistol. Ibrahim was subsequently fired from the city’s facilities department by Mayor Michelle Wu.

The second incident involved a city employee who was identified as a Level Three sex offender in a report and was fired after having formerly worked in the Parks and Recreation Department. The individual had prior convictions for indecent assault and battery of a child under 14 years old.

City response and review

The Boston City Council’s Labor, Workforce and Economic Development Committee held a hearing related to these background check policies. City officials noted that not every job applicant undergoes a background check; it typically only applies to roles requiring interaction with the public or vulnerable populations. The city is reviewing job descriptions to better determine which positions require background checks.

Councilors emphasized the need to balance support for people with criminal records with the safety of the community and maintaining high service standards. Concerns were raised about the hiring of individuals with serious criminal backgrounds in roles where they could directly interact with children or youths. Councilor Ed Flynn urged for stricter policies, including a potential blanket ban for certain offenders from working in specific city departments like Boston Public Schools.

Calls for immediate action

Councilors Murphy and Flynn called for an Emergency Hearing to address the issue more urgently, emphasizing the importance of not delaying actions despite earlier proposals being blocked. Flynn is advocating for a new hearing to be scheduled within the next 30 days.

City officials also highlighted broader employment challenges. José Massó, the city’s Chief of Human Services, noted the difficulties people with criminal convictions face in finding employment, underscoring the complexity of tightening hiring rules while supporting reentry.

What is being considered

• Revising which job classifications automatically require criminal background checks.
• Targeting positions that involve interaction with the public and vulnerable populations, particularly children.
• Potentially implementing department-specific restrictions, including for Boston Public Schools and Parks and Recreation.
• Holding an Emergency Hearing within 30 days to accelerate policy review and possible changes.

Next steps

The Council and city personnel staff will continue reviewing job descriptions and current screening practices to identify gaps and propose clearer standards for when background checks are required. Further committee hearings are expected to refine policy changes and consider safeguards that balance public safety with employment opportunities for people with past convictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did the Boston City Council discuss?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The Boston City Council discussed potentially changing which jobs require criminal background checks.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Which positions are targeted by the proposal?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The proposal targets positions that involve interaction with the public and vulnerable populations, particularly children.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What incidents prompted these discussions?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Recent incidents involving two city workers prompted these discussions about background checks.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What happened to Nasiru Ibrahim?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “One city worker, Nasiru Ibrahim, was arrested for having tinted windows and attempting to flee from police while possessing an illegal pistol.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Was Ibrahim fired?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Ibrahim was subsequently fired from the city’s facilities department by Mayor Michelle Wu.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What about the Level Three sex offender?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Another city employee, a Level Three sex offender, was revealed to the public in a report and was fired after having formerly worked in the Parks and Recreation Department.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What convictions did that individual have?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The individual had prior convictions for indecent assault and battery of a child under 14 years old.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Which committee held a hearing?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The Boston City Council’s Labor, Workforce and Economic Development Committee held a hearing related to these background check policies.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did Alex Lawrence say about background checks?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Alex Lawrence, the city’s Chief of People Officer, mentioned that not every job applicant undergoes a background check; it typically only applies to roles requiring interaction with the public or vulnerable populations.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What balance are councilors seeking?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Councilors expressed the need for a balance between supporting individuals with criminal records and ensuring community safety and high service standards.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Who urged stricter policies and what did they propose?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Councilor Ed Flynn urged for stricter policies, including a potential blanket ban for certain offenders from working in specific city departments like Boston Public Schools.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did José Massó highlight?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “José Massó, the city’s Chief of Human Services, highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with criminal convictions in finding employment.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What procedural action did some councilors request?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Councilors Murphy and Flynn called for an Emergency Hearing to address the issue more urgently, emphasizing the importance of not delaying actions despite earlier proposals being blocked.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What timeline was proposed for a new hearing?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Flynn is advocating for a new hearing to be scheduled within the next 30 days.”
}
}
]
}

Quick Reference Table

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Mayor Michelle Wu Secures Reelection Victory in Boston
Boston Housing Market: Achieving Homeownership Amid Rising Prices
How To Contact Boston City Council Members
Michelle Wu Runs Unopposed in Boston Mayoral Reelection
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Runs Unopposed for Reelection
Ed Flynn Introduces Resolution Against Safe Injection Sites in Boston
Boston Reviews City Job Background Check Policies
Boston’s Mass. and Cass Area Shows Signs of Change Amid Concerns
Monica Cannon-Grant Pleads Guilty to Nonprofit Fraud Charges
District 7 Preliminary Election Results Recount Confirmed

Additional Resources

• NBC Boston
• Boston Globe
• WHDH
• Boston 25 News
• Google Search: Boston City Council meeting criminal background checks

Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.