Category Archives: General news
Pennsylvania Expungement Bill To Reach Senate Floor
On June 17, 2013, Senate Bill 391 was cleared by the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee and may progress to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 391 was introduced by Senator Tim Solobay with the intention of providing a second chance to former offenders. Senator Solobay believes that the bill will reduce recidivism rates and subsequently reduce the average amount that the state spends on housing prisoners each year. Continue reading
Closing Courthouses in Los Angeles County: How It May Affect Cases
Last year, in an effort to consolidate resources, the Superior Court of California announced that nine Los Angeles County courthouses would soon be closing, and the cases transferred to other local courthouses. The closures took effect on June 14, 2013. Continue reading
Minnesota Supreme Court Curtails State Courts’ Expungement Power
A May 22, 2013 ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court is not welcome news for those who want to have their criminal records expunged. The ruling reverses a recent appellate court decision that allowed the courts to order the expungement of records contained in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) database, which is frequently searched by employers and the public. Despite the ruling, Attorney Mathew Higbee says there are still plenty of good reasons for people to have their records expunged by the courts. Continue reading
New Eligibility Requirements for Juvenile Record Sealing in Michigan
On December 28, 2012, Michigan Public Act 527 went into effect and amended the eligibility requirements for juvenile record sealing. The previous law only allowed for a single juvenile offense to be sealed after an individual reached the age of … Continue reading
Mathew Higbee Testifies About Expungement Laws to California State Senates Committee On Public Safety
Attorney Mathew Higbee was the lead witness in support of Senator Roderick Wright’s bill to expand the benefits of California’s expungement law. The bill, SB 530, is expected to be approved by the committee. Higbee explained to the committee that, … Continue reading
