Category Archives: expungement
Missouri to Clear Marijuana-Related Offenses from Criminal Records
Missouri residents voted to legalize recreational marijuana on November 8, 2022. The Missouri legislature presented a state constitutional amendment to the public. Amendment 3 to the Missouri Constitution was on the ballot at the November 2022 election. A majority of … Continue reading
Illinois Marijuana Expungement Through House Bill 1438
The New Year brings new laws and Illinois’ headline law change is the legalization of recreational marijuana. It is one of the few states to legalize via the state legislature rather than by direct democracy. Included in this legalization law and the focus of this article is an adjustment to how certain cannabis offenses will be expunged. Continue reading
Expungement Law Expanding Nationwide – More Protection for Former Offenders
Legislatures across the country are increasingly concerned about irrational discrimination in the housing and job market that is based on old criminal records. There were more than 20 new expungement laws that either created or expanded the ability to expunge records in the past 3 years. Continue reading
Indiana Appeals Court: Trial Judges Have No Discretion in Certain Expungements
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today that judges do not have discretion to deny a valid petition for expungement of a low-level felony or misdemeanor conviction. The appellate court held that the use of the word “shall” from Indiana’s 2013 expungement law change prevents judges from exercising discretion in deciding these expungement requests. Continue reading
Minnesota House Passes Expungement Bill HF 2576
he Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill last week that will significantly improve the expungement law in Minnesota. The major changes include expanding the eligibility for a statutory expungement to some misdemeanor and felony convictions. Additionally the bill adds an explicit provision that requires background check companies to promptly remove the record of a case once they know it has been expunged. Continue reading
