Criminal records can be a ‘life sentence to poverty.’ This state is automatically sealing some.  Washington PostResearch shows that the vast majority of people who could expunge their criminal records never do it. Petitioning for a clean record can be confusing and costly.

Illinois marijuana legalization allows criminal record clearing  KMOXSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — There are nearly 800000 criminal records in Illinois for marijuana possession despite a new state law legalizing it.

Ayoola Ajayi, suspect in MacKenzie Lueck's murder, expunged his Utah theft case, clearing his record  Salt Lake TribuneThe 2012 report from Utah State University says police there wanted Ayoola Ajayi charged with a class B misdemeanor for stealing an iPad. What happened ...

Recreational Marijuana legalization allows criminal record clearing  week.comSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - There are nearly 800000 criminal records in Illinois for marijuana possession despite a new state law legalizing it. So part of.

State representative, judge offering information about clearing criminal records  ABC 12 NewsFLINT (WJRT) (6/20/2019) - State Rep. Sheldon Neeley and Judge Deborah Thomas will be offering free information about how to clear someone's criminal ...

New York marijuana: What to know about decriminalization, criminal records, pot possession  The Journal News | LoHud.comNew York marijuana decriminalization is poised to become law, reducing penalties, fines for low-level pot possession and expunging criminal records.

Lawyers volunteer to help people with criminal records land jobs in model Montgomery County program  Allentown Morning CallThe Montgomery County Bar Association launched a program to help people with criminal records find jobs and reenter society. It's something the Lehigh Valley ...

NY prepares for expunging some marijuana arrests  NewsdayALBANY — A measure passed by the State Legislature would strike past and future misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession, clearing criminal records ...

Documents Related to Stormy Daniels Pay Off to be Released  TIME(NEW YORK) — Federal prosecutors have told a judge in New York they have concluded their investigation into campaign finance crimes committed by ...

Pennsylvania's 'Clean Slate' law presents tricky data challenges  StateScoopPennsylvania began sealing millions criminal records on Friday as part of its “Clean Slate” law, passed last year. The effort is, according to Gov. Tom Wolf ...

Ige Signs First-In-Nation Law On Clearing Prostitution Convictions  Honolulu Civil Beat(AP) — Hawaii on Tuesday became the first state in the U.S. to remove a requirement that a person be a victim of sex trafficking to have a prostitution conviction ...

Irwin bill would clear marijuana-related crimes from records  Michigan AdvanceWith marijuana now legal in Michigan, the state Legislature will soon see a bill to clear criminal convictions. In a statement, Senate Democrats say that ...

Expunging and Sealing: Who Sees What?  LexologyCriminal backgrounds create a difficult barrier for people trying to find employment. Expunging and sealing criminal records lifts this barrier and…

What you need to know about getting your criminal record cleared #ConsumerTalk  CapeTalkCapeTalk listener Joaan M says she's unhappy with the *service* received from criminal record removal firm *Fresh* Start Law Centre.

Illinois governor signs bill to legalize recreational marijuana use  JURISTIllinois Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill that will legalize recreational marijuana. The legislation is intended to regulate and license the sale, ...

Portland police lack consistent direction on encounters with homeless people, report finds  OregonLiveWe recommend that the Portland Police Bureau identify its role in addressing homelessness, implement consistent direction for officers, improve data collection, ...

Expungement And Sealing Of Records Help Ex-Criminals Return To Work  NPRA criminal conviction can present obstacles to everything from jobs to housing. Since 2017, more than 20 states have expanded or added laws that help people ...

There’s No Such Thing as Expunging a Criminal Record Anymore  SlateYou're arrested. It's a mistake and it's expunged. But your mug shot is still online for everyone to find.

WATCH: 11 Indiana Cops Detain Entire Bar to Conduct Background Checks on Patrons  News MavenVideo posted to FB shows Indiana cops detaining an entire bar, sealing off exits & forcing record checks on all patrons.

Would You Trust the Police Officer Who Writes ‘It’s a Good Day for a Chokehold’?  The New York TimesProsecutors can do much more than punish officers who violate the law.

Can a Criminal Record Ever Be Fully Expunged?  Pacific StandardEven if a record is officially wiped clean, it's legal for criminal justice agencies and other websites to keep criminal records online.

What Tiffany Cabán's Likely Win in Queens Means for the Future of Criminal Justice Reform  GQ31-year-old public defender Tiffany Caban is projected to be the Democratic nominee for district attorney in a borough home to almost 2.4 million people.

Inside NY's new marijuana decriminalization law: How it works  newyorkupstate.comFines and penalties are reduced and some convictions will be cleared from the record.

Clear more criminal records to give people a fresh start  Raleigh News & ObserverNorth Carolina leaders are considering legislation that would substantially expand the number of people who are eligible to clear their criminal record, and ...

Trump's Human Trafficking Record Is Fake News  Foreign PolicySince taking office in 2017, the Trump administration has claimed that its human rights agenda centers on human trafficking. “My Administration continues to ...

An algorithm wipes clean the criminal pasts of thousands  BBC NewsThis month, a judge in California cleared thousands of criminal records with one stroke of his pen. He did it thanks to a ground-breaking new algorithm that ...

Many Californians can clear criminal records, but don’t. This bill would make it automatic  San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and Assemblyman Phil Ting on Thursday announced AB1076, a first-of-its-kind initiative that would automatically ...

Report: Portland PD 'lacks direction' on homeless | Northwest News  Longview Daily NewsPortland police have unreliable statistics on arrests of homeless people and those with mental health problems and officers remain confused about their role in ...

Automatic Sealing? Expungement? As They Legalize Marijuana, New York Lawmakers Negotiate Clearing Criminal Records  Gotham GazetteMayor de Blasio discusses marijuana policy (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office). New York seems poised to enact the country's first automatic ...

Briefs  Gillette News RecordWNBA suspends Riquna Williams 10 games. NEW YORK — Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams was suspended without pay by the WNBA on Tuesday ...

Undoing the Damage of the Drug War  Rolling StoneA criminal record, even for something as seemingly minor as weed possession, can serve as a lifelong stain, preventing someone from getting a job, a house, ...

How to erase your criminal record (yes, that's a thing!)  FOX 29Having a criminal record makes you feel stuck. It's basically a “DO NOT TOUCH” sign for potential employers, universities, military officials, and anyone else with ...

Proposed Law Would Broaden Eligibility For Criminal Expungement  Wisconsin Public Radio NewsA bill in the state Legislature would make more individuals with criminal records eligible for expungement.

Clearing an Old Marijuana Conviction Record Just Got a Lot Easier  LA MagazineClearing marijuana conviction records has been possible since Prop 64, but was costly and complex. Now a new law–and some big data tech–hopes to fix that.

North Carolina moves to help offenders clear their records  WLOSEvery time 28-year-old Poet Williams applies for a job, his arrest record comes up: three nonviolent misdemeanors. Those drug charges have followed the ...

San Francisco will remove more than 9,300 marijuana-related crimes from people’s records  Los Angeles TimesA year-long effort to expunge marijuana-related convictions in San Francisco has been completed, with more than 9300 crimes slated to be removed from ...

Democratic State Lawmakers Push to Automatically Expunge 1 Million Criminal Convictions  KTLA Los AngelesCalifornia has already moved to automatically expunge the records of those convicted of qualifying marijuana crimes. Now, Democratic lawmakers and ...

Expunge all marijuana crimes automatically  The Massachusetts Daily CollegianMarijuana possession is not a crime anymore, so why should former convictions be relevant?

Gov. Whitmer promised to expunge marijuana-related criminal records in Michigan. Those convicted are still waiting.  Detroit Metro TimesGov. Whitmer promised to expunge pot-related criminal records after legalization. Those convicted are still waiting. More than six months after voters legalized ...

It Just Became Easier to Clean A Criminal Record in the Garden State  NJ SpotlightCourts already deal with 10000 expungement applications annually. Reforms 'will open the door' for thousands more to apply.

Criminal expungements a possibility for more West Virginians - WV MetroNews  West Virginia MetroNewsCHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thousands of people in West Virginia convicted of certain nonviolent felonies and others with misdemeanor convictions now have a ...

Convicts Seeking to Clear Their Records Find More Prosecutors Willing to Help  The New York TimesLaw enforcement officials have traditionally opposed efforts to remove black marks from people's records. That is starting to change.

Clean Slate: How Ditching A Criminal Record Is No Easy Task  Law360An estimated 100 million Americans have criminal records that follow them for life. Some states have moved to ease the burden by passing record-sealing laws ...

Clean Slate Campaign Launched to Automate Clearing of Criminal Records for Reformed Ex-Offenders  ESR NEWSOn November 15, 2018, the Center for American Progress (CAP) – an independent nonpartisan policy institute dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans ...

Some states are expunging marijuana-related convictions. Why isn't Michigan?  Michigan RadioNow that recreational marijuana is legal in Michigan, what happens to the around 50,0000 people who've previously been convicted of marijuana-related.

Jobs shortage fuels push to pardon SC criminal records  The Charlotte ObserverSouth Carolina businesses with worker shortages pushed an expansion of the state's law defining what crimes are eligible for expungement. Advocates say the ...

Clearing of criminal record 'a blessing' for future lawyer  The PantagraphBLOOMINGTON— A sense of relief washed over Kristen Braffet on Thursday as she picked up paperwork that erased a teenage mistake from her record — and ...

Bill to allow petitions to judges to expunge criminal records clears Senate  New Mexico Political ReportCommitting a crime might be easy enough. Getting a criminal record expunged in New Mexico is more difficult than almost anywhere in the West. Now that is ...

How The Formerly Incarcerated Can Improve Their Employability  ForbesThis article discusses the platform Clear My Record, which helps ex-offenders to clear their criminal record.

Prosecutors move to clear 54,000 marijuana convictions in California  Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles and San Joaquin prosecutors plan to automatically wipe out tens of thousands of marijuana convictions eligible under Proposition 64.

San Francisco To Expunge Thousands Of Marijuana Convictions  NPRSan Francisco officials plan to expunge more than 9,000 marijuana convictions dating back to 1975, the city's highest law enforcement official said Monday.

California bill would clear conviction and arrest records  ABC10.com KXTVRoughly 20% of Californians have past legal convictions that can restrict them from jobs, housing, and educational opportunities, officials said.

How Clearing Criminal Records Puts People to Work  CityLabAbout 70 million Americans have criminal records, and some of them struggle to find jobs decades after their offense. Advocates of expungement say it levels the ...

Free clinics offer the opportunity to clear criminal records  American River CurrentAmerican River College is offering students a chance to get their criminal record expunged during free, on-campus expungement clinics throughout this ...

Guest opinion: Help former criminals expunge records and move on with Clean Slate Initiative  Utah PolicyEvery day, thousands of Utahns are burdened by nonviolent criminal records that torpedo good job prospects, deny them homes, and even prevent them from ...

Hundreds of thousands of people have weed convictions in N.J. They could soon be able to clear those records.  NJ.comEDITOR'S NOTE: The billion-dollar medical marijuana, hemp and legal weed industries offer an economic opportunity unrivaled in modern N.J. history.

Utah lawmakers pass the 'clean slate' bill to automatically clear the criminal records of people who earn an expungement  Salt Lake TribuneUtah is poised to become the second state in the nation to adopt an automatic system that will eventually wipe out the criminal records of people convicted of ...

First Word: For Trump, the fear is the point of his cruel immigration policy [Opinion]  Houston Chronicle Jose Escobar's return is bittersweet as he should have never been deported.

It should be easier to expunge minor crimes and give people a second chance, attorney says  NJ.comBy Akil Roper. Later this year, Pennsylvania will be the first state to implement a system of expungement and sealing of criminal records - that will require the ...

Our View: With cannabis legal, clear criminal records  Press HeraldWhy should one group of citizens pay lifelong consequences for things that others do today with impunity? File photo by Gabe Souza. It's legal for those 21 and ...

Manhattan DA joins push to help qualified nonviolent offenders seal their criminal records  New York Daily NewsNonviolent offenders are about to get help clearing their criminal records from an unlikely source — the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Staffers for DA Cy ...

Erasing arrest records could be easier if this bill passes  ABC10.com KXTVAssemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Fransico) introduced legislation Feb. 21 that would allow for an automated process of clearing arrest and conviction records.

Bill that could protect trafficking survivors from deportation has yet to reach floor in Albany  Queens Daily EagleBy David Brand. As the legislative session comes to a close, New York state lawmakers have yet to vote on a bill that could protect survivors of human trafficking ...

The ‘Clean Slate’ bill would let people move on from their mistakes.  Hartford CourantClean Slate gives people who have moved on from the worst moments of their lives the chance to earn their success by removing obstacles to a home, ...

The free-market case for a clean slate | TheHill  The HillClean-slate measures uphold the spirit of the law while offering reformed offenders a safe, productive life.

Rutgers Law School offering free expungement sessions in Camden  Cherry Hill Courier PostStaff will offer general information sessions on how to clear some criminal convictions.

Inslee pardons pot convictions of 13 Washington residents. Now lawmakers may clear criminal records for 200,000 more.  The Seattle TimesLegislation that would allow erasure of more than 226000 misdemeanor marijuana convictions is being considered by state lawmakers.

Mass. still has no clue how many people’s marijuana records should be cleared  The Boston GlobeAs the state's pot industry rakes in millions of dollars, momentum is growing for the government to automatically expunge old cannabis records.

Five Things You Didn't Know About Clearing Your Record  The Marshall ProjectA Nashville lawyer hopes to wipe clean some arrest records for 128,000 Tennesseans. The lawyer, Daniel Horwitz, who has worked on multiple cases regarding ...

100s of pot convictions to be tossed under DA plan: 'A simple matter of justice'  syracuse.comSyracuse, NY – Hundreds of people with marijuana convictions dating back at least 20 years will have their criminal records erased under a plan by the ...

N.J.'s governor promised to clear weed convictions. Here's just how hard that will be.  NJ.comClearing a criminal record is a difficult, burdensome process in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy could soon make it even worse if he legalizes marijuana.

Cannabis criminal record relief: A Q&A with Katie Blakeman : Culture  Smile Politely - Champaign-Urbana's Online MagazineJust a couple of weeks ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the details of a much anticipated and expected bill to legalize cannabis in the state of Illinois.

Concerns over domestic violence prompt proposed changes to annulment bill  Concord MonitorAuthors of a bill originally intended to expedite the process of clearing the criminal records of young offenders and victims of PTSD proposed an amendment ...

Brooklyn DA, others urge Albany to repeal loitering law and enable record-clearing for trafficking victims before end of session  Brooklyn Daily EagleWith just a few hours left in the state legislative session, advocates continued urging state lawmakers to pass two bills designed to protect transgender ...

NJ marijuana legalization could wipe weed arrests off your criminal record  Asbury Park PressNew Jersey legislators are expected to institute automatic expungement for marijuana possession as part of any marijuana legalization law.

Almond man gets life for fatally shooting estranged wife's boyfriend, can seek release in 25 years  Stevens Point JournalSTEVENS POINT - A 32-year-old Almond man convicted of shooting his estranged wife's boyfriend was sentenced Friday to life in prison, with possible release ...

Arpaio criminal record case 1 step closer to moving forward  Arizona Daily StarPHOENIX — The legal case of whether former Phoenix metro sheriff Joe Arpaio will still have a criminal record despite his pardon by President Donald Trump is ...

California Prosecutors Move to Clear Old Pot Convictions  ReasonRecreational weed went into effect last year. Now, two prosecutors are trying to bring the criminal justice system up to speed.

Fulton County Fathers Offered Criminal Record Expungement  Sandy Springs, GA PatchFulton County Fathers Criminal Record Expungement - Sandy Springs, GA - Just in time for Father's Day, the Fulton County Solicitor is offering a free, virtual ...

Liberating criminal justice data: How a Florida law provides a blueprint for the nation  ABA JournalImage by Stephen Finn via Shutterstock.com. In a self-imposed Sisyphean task, the team at Measures for Justice travels the U.S. unearthing, collecting and ...

Trafficking survivors shed an unjust label: ‘criminal’  The Christian Science MonitorAs attitudes about justice in sex trafficking cases change, more states are giving survivors a chance to clear away convictions for prostitution. But the ...

The Financial Benefits of Wiping the Slate Clean  Bankrate.comAnyone who carries a criminal record knows just how much it costs. Yet, there are some steps that past offenders can take to wipe the slate clean.

California Company Launching Program to Help Expunge Cannabis Convictions Under Prop. 64  Cannabis Business TimesHeally's *Fresh* Start program will guide applicants through the expungement process with pro-bono legal counsel.

Denver Program Helps People Convicted Of Pot Crimes Before Legalization Get A ‘Clean Slate’  CBS DenverDENVER (AP/CBS4) – Officials say a simplified program will make it easier for thousands of people to seek the elimination of the low-level marijuana convictions ...

Expungement Fairs Are Getting Top Cannabis Talent Back In Business  ForbesFrom October 20 to 27, organizations will offer free record-clearing and legal advice for National Expungement Week, and hopefully help cannabis veterans ...

Expunging arrests would be easier under bill approved by Senate  WRAL.comOther criminal justice reform efforts likely to die as legislative deadline approaches.

Here's New Mexico Militia Leader Johnny Horton Jr.'s Bizarre Arrest Record  Southern Poverty Law CenterLike how he's in direct contact with President Donald Trump and advising the commander-in-chief on border security. Or how he's planning to lead hundreds of ...

Washington Gov. Inslee to pardon thousands convicted of marijuana possession  NBCNews.comWashington Gov. Jay Inslee said he plans to pardon thousands convicted of small-time marijuana possession, saying people should not be punished for a ...

N.J.'s top court just made it easier for recovering addicts to clean up their criminal record  NJ.comThe New Jersey Supreme Court found too many hurdles for people who graduated drug court to expunge their records and start a new chapter.

Program helps clear criminal records, renews confidence  The AdvocateRICHMOND — When Joe Williams arrived at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium he had hope in his heart and determination in his eyes. Williams, like many ...

Clearing 800,000 Illinois people of convictions makes sense if pot is legalized  Chicago Sun-TimesIn the remaining weeks of the current session, Illinois lawmakers will consider a critical bill that not only would legalize the possession and sale of specified ...

Louisville Organizations Mount Effort To Clear Criminal Records En Masse  89.3 WFPL News LouisvilleOne of the largest efforts comes from the Louisville Urban League, which received a large gift allowing it to spend $100000 on expunging records this year ...

Dozens in Calhoun County get criminal records cleared using 2014 Alabama law  Anniston StarDozens of Calhoun County residents, accused of crimes but never convicted, have been able to get their criminal records cleared under a 2014 law that allows ...

Legal weed: Kim Foxx to start expunging thousands of pot convictions  Chicago Sun-TimesCook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said she is still on track to begin wiping clean thousands of minor cannabis convictions in the coming months, but ...

Shutting former criminals out of opportunity is economically foolish  USA TODAYNearly half of all children have a parent with a criminal record, and US is losing $87 billion a year in GDP by not employing them.

When You Can't Afford the Cost of Clearing Your Record  YES! MagazineAdrienne broke the law: Caught speeding on her way home from work in Memphis, Tennessee, she pled guilty to charges of reckless driving and reckless ...

Colorado could move to clear pre-legalization marijuana convictions statewide as soon as 2019  The Colorado IndependentSweeping action could be on the horizon, given strong momentum for a move to clear all criminal records for the the tens of thousands of Coloradans convicted ...

Low Unemployment Makes Employers More Willing to Hire Ex-Offenders with Criminal Records in 2019  ESR NEWSWith record low unemployment, employers should be more willing to hire ex-offenders with the necessary skills to make sure they are not eliminating job ...

Bill Lee's plan to eliminate criminal expungement fee heads to Senate floor with support  The TennesseanTennessee Governor Bill Lee's plan would eliminate the $180 expungement fee, making it easier for thousands of eligible offenders to get a clean criminal ...

Bills to Boost Justice Data Collection and Automate Expungements Sail Through the Assembly |  witnessla.comOn Wednesday, the California Assembly passed two bills that seek to bring equity to California's criminal justice system. AB 1076, a bill to automate the ...