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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 16, 2013 12:58 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jordan A. Harris and Rep. Ronald G. Waters, Rep. Patty Kim |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Criteria to Allow for the Expungement of Certain Criminal Records |
| In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that would allow for the expungement of a person’s criminal record information after seven years has lapsed from their release from prison provided certain criteria are met. Too often individuals make mistakes in their youth that can have a lasting effect on their lives, often hindering their ability to become responsible adults who can make positive contributions to the community. We believe that if any person who has successfully completed their sentence and penalties for the crime he or she committed, should not be required to continue pay the price indefinitely. As such, our legislation would give these individuals an opportunity to appear before a judge and request an expungement of their criminal record if at least seven years has passed since they completed their sentence. All violent offenses and many others are prohibited from being expunged under our bill. Instead, our legislation targets non-violent offenders favorable to rehabilitation. In addition, our legislation would also allow individuals to sue for civil damages if a repository fails to expunge a person’s criminal record even after receiving a court order to do so. If it’s a judge’s opinion that a person deserves to have a crime expunged from his or her record, and yet a repository fails to follow the court order to do so, it is only fair that a person should be able to sue for damages. All too often, mistakes that people have already paid for continue to prevent them from gainful employment and housing throughout their life. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation in hopes of helping many Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as HB908