With reform to the criminal justice system long overdue, Washington D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed a bill that would simplify the process of sealing criminal records. The Second Chance Amendment Act of 2021, if passed, would change the lives of many D.C. residents. Each year, around 40,000 arrests occur in D.C., and roughly a third of these individuals were never prosecuted or acquitted. Their records are available for any third party to see. Passing the bill would allow for those individuals whose offenses were nonviolent to be cleared and give them a deserving fresh start.
The Second Chance Amendment Act of 2021 proposes a panel of judges who would review convictions and seal records to drop nonviolent charges. This proposal would prevent third parties from viewing and obtaining these criminal records when conducting background checks. There will be a few exceptions where law enforcement, the judicial system, and specific employers (e.g., those who work with children) will still have access to their criminal record.
This bill has been brought forth by the mayor twice before, in 2017 and 2019, and he is hopeful that the third time will be the charm. This bill will allow for a second chance and would wipe the slate clean for so many D.C. residents. These individuals will have a greater chance of receiving proper employment, housing, and education. The Second Chance Amendment Act will be impactful for not only these individuals’ lives but Washington D.C. as a whole, creating safer communities and allowing for a more equitable D.C.
