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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 12, 2017 11:20 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Expungement of Criminal Records (Prior HB 1175) |
| In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation that would modernize Pennsylvania’s approach to long-term reporting of minor criminal records. Pennsylvania’s expungement law currently only covers summary offenses. My legislation would amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to include some 3rd degree misdemeanors and, if committed by people under the age of 25, some 2nd degree misdemeanors. A person must demonstrate rehabilitation by being arrest and conviction free for the 7 to 10 years prior to requesting an expungement. A person who is classified as a habitual offender (multiple serious convictions) will never be eligible. A low-level misdemeanor in a person’s past can often serve as a continual barrier when seeking work, long after they have completed their sentence. My legislation proposes that the Commonwealth join a growing number of states that have expanded their expungement laws to reduce the period during which a minor criminal record can punish people. This legislation would benefit not just former offenders, but Pennsylvania as a whole, by countering high rates of recidivism, relieving an overburdened pardon system, and providing an opportunity for ex-offenders to join our workforce. Previous Cosponsors: BARBIN, BARRAR, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DAVIS, DeLUCA, FREEMAN, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, J. HARRIS, KIM, LONGIETTI, McNEILL, MILLARD, READSHAW, ROZZI, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHREIBER, SCHWEYER, WHEATLEY and ZIMMERMAN |
Introduced as HB942