The Crime Report (https://thecrimereport.org/tag/expungement/)
New reform proposals are being looked at in Massachusetts that, if passed, would expand the list of offenses that could be expunged from someone’s juvenile record. This comes as new reform programs are becoming popular in the state, and many hope for change.
In the latest push to reform the states criminal justice system, New York lawmakers seek to expunge records for certain felonies and misdemeanors that too often mark a person for life and limit options for a future.
A former incarceree and a former probation officer say a proposed “Clean Slate” bill in Louisiana to streamline the expungement process is an example of how states can couple accountability with opportunities to restore people leaving prison to full participation in civil society.
A first-of-its kind Michigan study found that individuals who took advantage of a law allowing them to wipe convictions from their record increased their income by 25 percent within two years.
An estimated 25-30 percent of the adult population of Americans have criminal records—a “staggering” number which continues to increase, and which should make addressing the barriers that prevent this population from leading productive lives a top priority, says a Harvard Law and Policy Review study.