As of November 1st, more than 300 new laws have gone into effect in Oklahoma. One of these laws, HB 1799, positively affects juvenile records and their eligibility for expunction.

With HB 1799, juvenile records may be erased if they meet certain requirements. These requirements are as follows: 1. The juvenile has reached 18 or 19 years of age (it used to be 21), 2. The juvenile has not been arrested since the offense and there are no outstanding charges against them at the time of petitioning for expunction, and 3. All court fees and fines have been completed.

This bill essentially fixes the process for juvenile expunctions to make it easier for defendants to escape the stigma and limitations of a criminal record. Young offenders are more likely to stick to a clean path if they don’t have the burden of a criminal record following them everywhere they go. We all know that it’s difficult to get out of the criminal justice system once you’re in it, so it makes sense for the state to do as much as they possibly can to give these young people more opportunities to succeed. No one should start adulthood under unfair circumstances.

The widely supported bill is now in effect, and the state is encouraging people to expunge records of closed cases so that they’re more equipped to find jobs, housing, etc.

When your records have been expunged, it’s as if the offense never occurred. If you’re desperate to rid your record of an arrest, charge, or conviction, we can help. Reach out to Easy Expunctions to see if your case is eligible for a quick and affordable expunction. There’s no time like the present to start thinking about your future!

Cannabis legalization and racial justice are two major topics that have been discussed and argued throughout the nation for decades on end. A study recorded by the American Medical Association highlights an unsettling correlation between the two. The disproportionate rates of marijuana-related arrests amongst Black Americans emphasize an injustice that must be corrected, and legalization may pose more significant benefits than what scrapes the surface.

States that have decided to legalize or decriminalize marijuana have seen a significant decrease in race-based arrests in comparison to states that have not yet moved toward legalization. Researchers from Eastern Virginia Medical School and Saint Louis University analyzed racial trends surrounding cannabis arrests in legal states and recorded 561 fewer arrests per 100,000 Black people and 195 fewer arrests for white people from 2008 to 2019. Additionally, researchers reported 449 fewer arrests for Black people and 117 for white people in states that have enforced decriminalization, a significant discrepancy that must be brought to light. The Journal of the American Medical Association Health Forum released the study and summarized its results:

“Among states without a policy change, arrest rates increased over time for Black adults and remained stable for White adults…Overall, results revealed that states that implemented a cannabis policy change saw large decreases in arrests compared with states that had no policy reform.”

The facts are concrete, but reform is not guaranteed without action. If you’re living with a conviction on your criminal record, stop waiting for a policy change and treat yourself to the fresh start you deserve. Contact the record-clearing professionals at Easy Expunctions to find the expunction package that works best for you. Visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com to learn more.

Hats off to Orange County, Florida, for becoming the newest county to enact “Ban the Box” policies for government positions. The new law deems that those looking for jobs with the county “will no longer have to disclose prior criminal convictions at the beginning of the application process.”

Though the box will not be eliminated for certain positions (safety positions like corrections officers and firefighters), the step will advance opportunities for otherwise qualified individuals who also happen to have a criminal record. Those who are viable candidates shouldn’t be discouraged from applying for positions because they’ll have to answer questions about their criminal history.

The question won’t be eliminated entirely—it’ll simply come up later in the hiring process. Though it eventually comes to light, the main reason cities and counties are banning the box is so that employers don’t automatically eliminate a candidate at the beginning of the process. It reinforces the idea that employees should be chosen by their qualifications and compatibility and not judged solely by past run-ins with the law.

If you have a criminal record, you may be sick of checking that box on job applications that inquires about your history. With an expunction, you can legally say that you have no criminal record. We make it easy to determine your eligibility and see if an expunction could work for you—go to www.EasyExpunctions.com to sign up for a free background report so that we can see what’s on your record and what we can get rid of with our affordable record-clearing software.

It’s no surprise that Washingtonians are voting for safety over the status quo. The drug war has resulted in death and devastation for millions of Americans. A policy change could save lives, reduce fear, stigma, and shame amongst users and addicts, and help people receive the rehabilitation needed to move forward and pursue their life of choice rather than a life of punishment.

In an effort to push lawmakers towards a reform of the District’s drug policies, activists in Washington DC surveyed voters to showcase public opinion regarding drug decriminalization. The survey found that the majority of respondents support the act of removing “criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of commonly-used controlled substances consistent with personal use,” funding to establish 24/7 centers to reduce harm and prevent overdoses as well as funding to rehabilitate people “suffering from addiction, health problems, and needs relating to poverty to services like health care and substance use disorder treatment.” Another poll instills hope for new drug policies in the near future: 72% of respondents stated that they would consider council members who support drug reforms over those who did not. A statement from Queen Adesuyi, policy manager for DPA’s Office of National Affairs, reads below:

“Washingtonians can see for themselves that the drug war is worsening public safety and health. We are determined to push D.C. Council to listen to their constituents who largely want to see an actual investment in policies and resources rooted in evidence-based, health services instead of punishment and stigma…Though decriminalizing personal use quantities of drugs is not radical, and is simply an urgently needed next step in dismantling the harmful drug war, for some people, it challenges decades of socialization of fear and drug propaganda.”

Drug laws are not always enacted with the safety of the public at top of mind. If you’re living with a drug conviction on your criminal record, the record-clearing professionals at Easy Expunctions can help you take your life back into your own hands. Visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com or give us a call at
(866) 775-9983 to learn more.

Justice is put to the test in Montgomery, Alabama, as Claudette Colvin files a request to erase her 1955 arrest and probation from her record. At just 15 years old and months before Rosa Parks made headlines, Colvin sat on a bus with friends. She sat further down, more than halfway towards the back, when a white passenger approached. The driver insisted that Colvin give her seat up to the white passenger. With remarkable courage, Colvin refused the driver’s request, which resulted in her arrest.

Colvin didn’t go down without a fight. She resisted the arrest and was charged with assaulting an officer. She was put on probation “as a ward of the state pending good behavior,” and was ruled as “delinquent” by the juvenile court. Her probation never officially ended. Decades later, Colvin still fights for her constitutional rights and urges city officials to expunge the conviction from her criminal record, not just for herself, but for the future of Black Americans. Her attorney, Phillip Ensler, addressed the lack of clarity regarding her ongoing probation and informed AP of Colvin’s decision to move to New York and her fear of returning to Alabama. Colvin adds:

“My conviction for standing up for my constitutional right terrorized my family and relatives who knew only that they were not to talk about my arrest and conviction because people in town knew me as ‘that girl from the bus…You just have to inspire the people that you know, to keep on pushing and keep the struggle going, because it is not over”

Laws are not always fair, and progress is not guaranteed without action. If your criminal record is holding you back, Easy Expunctions is here to help. For more information about a seamless and affordable record-clearing process, contact our friendly professionals at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com.

The topic of Cannabis has a not-so-funny way of splitting the nation into factions. As more states move towards legalization, the hypocrisy of outdated drug policies, namely those in relation to marijuana, become more and more prevalent. Los Angeles County residents are finally able to take a sigh of relief with the District Attorney’s decision to expunge nonviolent cannabis-related charges from the criminal records of roughly 60,000 Angelenos.

The failed war on drugs has minimized opportunities for hundreds of thousands of deserving citizens, leaving families to suffer the consequences of a crime that accumulates profit for thousands of Americans in legal states. The cannabis industry generates nearly $5 billion in sales per year in California, yet many Californians are still paying off tedious fees and fines for ‘illegally’ possessing the substance. Felicia Carbajal, the executive director of The Social Impact Center, announces her alliance with the decision to overturn and expunge cannabis-related convictions for citizens in Los Angeles County:

“It clears the path for them to find jobs, housing and other services that previously were denied to them because of unjust cannabis laws…Giving people with cannabis convictions a new lease on life by expunging the records is something I have worked on for years and I am grateful that we can now make it happen.”

The push towards federal legalization instills hope for people still serving prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis offenses. However, the decision to decriminalize and/or legalize marijauna varies between states, and this inconsistency poses a threat to the federal reformation of outdated drug laws. Stop waiting for a reform and take action into your own hands with the help of record-clearing experts at Easy Expunctions. Give us a call at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at easyexpunctions.com to learn more about our affordable expunction packages.

The status quo dissolved into a cloud of uncertainty during the pandemic, prompting both negative and positive shifts within the American System. Five Maryland lawmakers recently addressed a positive change that should remain going forth: The assessment of an individual’s ability to successfully reenter society before sending them back to prison once the dangers surrounding COVID-19 subside.

The Trump administration stood firm in their decision to send a heaping 4,500 people back to detention centers, even if their behavior demonstrates a deservingness to reenter society as a rehabilitated citizen. In a refreshing attempt to restore empathy within the justice system, five Maryland lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal requesting the reconsideration of the Trump Administration’s senseless decision. A quote from letter follows:

“These individuals were transferred from correctional facilities to home confinement to stem the spread of COVID-19 after the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) determined that they did not present a danger to the public, but a Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion issued under the prior administration erroneously concludes that they will have to return to prison,”

The letter narrowed in on a 76-year-old Baltimore woman Ms. Gwen Levi, a prisoner of 24.5 years before being released to home confinement. Levi was tragically sent back to prison a year after her release due to a minor misunderstanding regarding the rules of the halfway house of which she resided—she did not answer her phone. Despite oppositions made by the DOJ, the 76-year-old was later released. Levi pleads for the safety and justice of other inmates in a written statement to the president:

“President Biden, please act now to keep these people home… They are doing everything right, yet they wake up every day not knowing where they will be in a few months, and that uncertainty makes it impossible to plan for their futures. Please remove that cloud. Commute their sentences now.”

Levi showed the public that imprisoned individuals have a voice to be heard, and lawmakers have a platform to tell their stories. People deserve a second chance. If you feel like your story has been ignored, our hard working professionals at Easy Expunctions are here to listen. To learn more about our seamless record-clearing process, give us a call at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at easyexpunctions.com.

As more and more states make efforts towards marijuana legalization, it’s important to pay special attention to communities that have been disproportionately harmed by prohibition in the past. Pennsylvania recently introduced a legalization bill that features a particular emphasis on social equity.

The proposal would make it legal for adults 21+ to purchase and keep up to one ounce of marijuana. Additionally, people could get a permit to grow three plants at home. Most importantly, the bill would have past marijuana convictions automatically expunged, and those who are currently serving prison time for marijuana would be released.

Now, for the social equity features: of the 13% excise tax, 15% of revenue would go towards community reinvestment and another 15% towards substance misuse treatment programs. Additionally, those who belong to minority communities would receive the highest priority for business licenses.

Bill sponsor Rep. Dan Frankel noted the following:

“This is a piece of legislation that’s been worked on by many staff at the Democratic caucus, worked with advocates, looked at models from other states and I think it’s really a great piece of legislation that I think will hopefully galvanize a conversation to finally deal with it,” Frankel said. “Now we all know the terrible history of the criminalization of cannabis—mass incarceration for people of color, as well as harmful ramifications for people’s ability to get jobs, education or loans… The most important part of this legislation seeks to repair some of the damage caused by generations of harmful policy in this area.”

The bill may see a promising future, as a recent survey found that 58% of residents favor ending cannabis prohibition. We hope the state follows in the footsteps of some of its Northeastern neighbors in this regard.

If you have a dates marijuana charge on your record that is getting in the way of getting your dream job or home, we can help. Reach out to the experts at Easy Expunctions to see if we can scrub your record clean and get you on the path towards a fresh start!

The second-largest private employer in the United States announced a change of heart toward ex-employees previously fired for testing positive for marijuana. As Amazon continues to grow at a shocking pace, employee demand increases as well. The implementation of marijuana drug tests quickly eliminates a significant portion of current employees and potential hires. Beyond business, Amazon will allow the reapplication of previously fired employees for three reasons: 1) new legalization laws, 2) the disproportionate effect that drug tests have on people of color, and 3) the desire for a greater pool of applicants.

Mandatory drug tests for marijuana are extremely outdated when it comes to many roles in the general workplace, especially those implemented at random. Many states are moving toward new legalization laws. As a nationwide corporation, Amazon cannot justify the reasoning behind its decision to terminate team members based on a personal decision to use cannabis. Not only is it a stretch of authority, but race and discrimination become evident once a company starts to pick and choose the people or the communities they decide to test.

Numbers and statistics do not lie, but while we’re talking about lying, easy access to resources like fake urine and detox kits in predominantly white communities should be considered in the discussion. Lastly, if the business is growing, so will the number of employees. To eliminate qualified employees for failing a marijuana drug test is to dismiss their reasoning behind it (not like they needed one anyway). For example, cannabis treats a variety of disorders such as insomnia, anxiety, suppressed appetite, and so much more. So, it’s clear that Amazon made the morally correct decision to give former employees a second chance, but they can’t expect their former employees to give them one, too.

Don’t let an outdated conviction haunt your life forever. Contact the record-clearing experts at Easy Expunctions to find the expunction package that works best for you and your future. Visit our website at easyexpunctions.com to learn more!

When it comes to outdated marijuana policies, decriminalization is merely the tip of the iceberg. New Jersey lawmakers are demonstrating an eagerness to reform the state’s justice system by granting over 362,000 expungements for New Jerseyites with low-level cannabis convictions, with hundreds of thousands more on the way.

Marijuana policies require more than slight tweaks. States often tease citizens with decriminalization laws and promises of legalization, yet leave their people to withstand the hardships that come with having a criminal record. Individuals previously charged with selling or possessing small amounts of marijuana must be considered when establishing better cannabis policies, because even one conviction will follow them when they apply for jobs, housing, and occupational licenses.

Statistics also show disproportionate rates of cannabis-related arrests in Black communities. These new decriminalization policies do not restore justice for the people—it’s just another way for lawmakers to disguise the bare minimum as progress. Without accessible expungement, decriminalization will not put an end to the cycle of incarceration, homelessness, and poverty. It will hardly even slow it down.

New Jersey advocates and lawmakers expressed hope that another 150,000 expungements will come very soon for New Jerseyites with cannabis convictions, setting a standard for other states to follow. New Jersey attorney Chirali Patel recently spoke about the rapid expungements within the state:

“Decriminalization and legalization are trying to work hand-in-hand… of course, this is just one step. Dealing with the collateral damage of having had a record — it still prevented them from so much. They’re finally going to be getting to the starting line.”

Stop living within the confines of your criminal record. Take your life back into your own hands with the help of record-clearing experts at Easy Expunctions. For more information regarding a simple and affordable expunction process, give us a call at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at www.easyexpunctions.com!