This past month, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Congressman David Trone (R-Md.) introduced a new bill, Workforce Justice 2021. This bill would eliminate the criminal record box on job applications for public and private companies, creating significant opportunities for previous offenders to receive employment. An individual with a criminal record can have a difficult time re-entering society and finding a job that won’t judge him or her based on past mistakes. This new bill will create better opportunities for businesses, previously incarcerated individuals, and society as a whole.

There are over 70 million Americans who have an arrest or conviction record, and banning the box would ensure that they are not left behind. For many of these individuals’ first-time release from incarceration, there is a very high chance that they could end up in a reoccurring criminal cycle due to the limited opportunities available to them. This is especially true for Black individuals who are disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system in the first place. When there is a requirement for criminal record disclosure on job applications, the box can automatically eliminate potential employees, regardless of their qualifications or character. Workforce Justice 2021 would ultimately work to get rid of automatic elimination and allow individuals to be evaluated based on their qualifications.

Waters believes in second chances, and that if a previously incarcerated person wants to change and reclaim their life, they should have the opportunity. As of now, 36 states, the District of Columbia, and over 150 cities and counties practice the “Ban the Box” policy. Many states have even taken it further to include private employment. Waters just wants to help Americans re-enter the workforce and create a more just society.

If you have a criminal record that you’re tired of disclosing on job or housing applications, Easy Expunctions might be able to rid your record of the charge, arrest, or conviction altogether. Get in touch with us to get started with a free background check—once we see what’s on your record, we’ll be able to determine what we can erase with our record-clearing software.

Virginia has taken the lead as the first southern state to legalize marijuana. Recently, Virginia lawmakers enacted the legalization law which allows adults 21 and over to use and grow marijuana starting in July. The state also plans to launch a legal and regulated market beginning in 2024. Additionally, the law creates an opportunity for people with convictions of past marijuana possession to lower their penalties or have their records sealed. Revenue from the new excise tax on marijuana will go to education programs, addiction treatment, public health services, and equity initiatives.

Many support the new legislation because it will eliminate the harmful effects of the war on drugs and marijuana prohibition. These effects include thousands of arrests, racial disparity, millions of dollars in the black market for illicit drugs, and violent operations. Supporters argue against the claims of health effects by noting that the end to marijuana prohibition outweighs the potential adverse effects of marijuana use.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Norham publicly backed marijuana legalization last November, and after a few months of back-and-forth, Virginia finally passed the legislation. This was a remarkably quick turnaround in comparison to other states like New York and New Jersey who battled for legalization for a few years. With Virginia’s new law, a total of 16 states and Washington D.C. have all legalized marijuana.

If you have a charge and you live in a state that has yet to legalize marijuana and/or provide methods of erasing old records, you should reach out to the friendly faces at Easy Expunctions. Our record-clearing software works quickly and efficiently, and at a much lower cost than a traditional lawyer. We want to give you a second chance to thrive without the weight of a criminal record—get in touch with us to see if we can help you get the fresh start you deserve.

Everyone deserves a place to call home—even those who have had a brush with our criminal justice system. Ann Arbor, Michigan, is making strides to ensure everyone has a chance to obtain decent housing by banning the criminal background checks of renters, which will expand housing opportunities to those returning to society after recent incarceration. This ordinance will reduce housing discrimination by getting rid of the criminal record box on housing applications, which is necessary as individuals with criminal records have an increasingly difficult time finding housing and transitioning back into society after charges and/or incarceration.

The new ordinance makes it illegal for landlords to ask applicants about their criminal history or require them to disclose any other criminal record. They also cannot deny someone housing based on this type of revealed information. If the landlord violates this ordinance, fines up to $500 a day for each violation will be enforced. The law makes exceptions for landlords who receive federal funding or accept tenants with federally subsidized housing vouchers.

Individuals incarcerated are seven times more likely to experience homelessness, which is a dangerous way to live and makes it even more challenging to receive jobs. Unmet housing needs also create challenges in dignity, public health, safety, and equality. Allowing landlords to discriminate based on criminal records also increases racial inequality within the housing markets, as people of color are disproportionately incarcerated. With this new ordinance in place, there will be more second chances available. Council members believe the community will benefit from it as a whole, and we have to agree.

If you’re tired of being denied housing based on a past charge, conviction, or arrest, we can help. We’re in the business of second chances—reach out to Easy Expunctions to get started with a free background report that can help us understand what’s on your record, and what could possibly be erased.

Ohio has introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow the expungement of eviction records under certain circumstances. Under this bill, a judge can expunge an eviction if they feel that the reason is no longer a predicate of future tenant behavior. Landlords will be able to argue against the expungement, but the judge will have the ultimate decision.

This bill is important now more than ever. When someone receives an eviction, it can make it difficult or nearly impossible for them to ever receive stable housing again. COVID-19 has significantly impacted people’s ability to keep up with rent payments, and legislation wants to offer redemption to these renters so that this situation doesn’t drive them to homelessness. In 2020, Ohio issued an eviction moratorium due to the economic impact of the pandemic—one that will now extend to June 2021. Despite this, many landlords are still filing eviction notices.

Even if the eviction wasn’t correctly filed or resulted in a judgment, it still affects a tenant’s future housing ability. An eviction can follow someone for years, and advocates of the Ohio bill believe that people who struggle to make rent should not receive punishment for decades. Though the Ohio House and Senate have approved $465 million in federal funding toward rent and utility assistance, we hope Ohio will continue working to provide second chances that will help those who struggle to find stable housing.

If you’re tired of being denied housing because of your criminal record, it’s time to take a look at our services at Easy Expunctions. You could unknowingly be carrying something on your record that doesn’t need to be there—that’s where we come in. Reach out to us to see if we can help clear your record for a brighter and better future.

Mississippi is trying to make amends by enacting certain parole reforms. Senate Bill 2795 would serve to lessen parole regulations, making it easier for inmates to be released. This is important because Mississippi is home to the nation’s strictest parole regulations, which ultimately leads to a surge in prison populations. Lawmakers want to use this bill to correct behavior and provide hope to inmates.

Senate Bill 2795 will have two significant changes. First, nonviolent offenses are eligible for parole at 25% of their sentence or 10 years–whichever comes first. Currently inmates are only eligible after serving 25%, which can be much longer than 10 years. The second change affects parole regulations for armed robberies and would allow inmates to be eligible for parole after serving 60% of their sentences. Current law does not allow eligibility for this crime at all.

The only way Mississippi will pass this bill is with Governor Tate Reeves’s signature. Many believe the Governor’s approval is highly unlikely, as he vetoed a similar bill last year. Supporters of the bill argue the bill will bring hope to the inmates and save state taxpayers money by creating a smaller inmate population. They also point out that inmates will not automatically be released after the bill passes, it only offers the possibility of more offenders receiving parole–they would still have to demonstrate good behavior and reformed character to be released. It’s worth noting that the U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating Mississippi’s prison system, as the state has allowed for poor conditions and has failed to protect prisoners from harm. Lessening the prison population would be an excellent way to show the federal government that they are making moves to correct the system’s flaws.

We hope the Governor signs the bill into law and that more prisoners are given the opportunity to escape the vicious cycle of the criminal justice system. If you feel trapped or burdened by your criminal record, we might be able to help. Get in touch with Easy Expunctions to discuss your options and see if we can scrub your record clean.

Having a criminal record can make it challenging to find housing, get hired for jobs, and even exercise your civil rights. Alabama wants to help those who have criminal records redeem themselves and find second chances to move forward. Under a new act, people who have long-ago convictions for certain low-level crimes will have the opportunity to receive expunctions and wipe their records clean.

The Alabama Legislature approved the REDEEMER Act, short for Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment and Eliminate Recidivism Act. This new bill essentially expands the state’s expungement policy, allowing people with certain nonviolent misdemeanors to apply for record expungement. It expands on a law that took effect in 2014 that allowed expunctions for those who had been arrested for a crime, but not convicted.

The REDEEMER Act will take effect in July of this year, allowing people to petition for expunctions. Judges are supposed to consider the nature of the offense and how much time has passed since the conviction. Though automatic expunctions are obviously preferable, this is most definitely a step in the right direction for Alabama’s criminal justice system.

If you’re having a hard time finding success in your personal or professional life because of an unclean criminal record, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today to get the ball rolling with a free background report. From there we can determine what’s on your record, and what our software can erase.

Mississippi is trying to make amends by enacting certain parole reforms. Senate Bill 2795 would serve to lessen parole regulations, making it easier for inmates to be released. This is important because Mississippi is home to the nation’s strictest parole regulations, which ultimately leads to a surge in prison populations. Lawmakers want to use this bill to correct behavior and provide hope to inmates.

Senate Bill 2795 will have two significant changes. First, nonviolent offenses are eligible for parole at 25% of their sentence or 10 years–whichever comes first. Currently inmates are only eligible after serving 25%, which can be much longer than 10 years. The second change affects parole regulations for armed robberies and would allow inmates to be eligible for parole after serving 60% of their sentences. Current law does not allow eligibility for this crime at all.

The only way Mississippi will pass this bill is with Governor Tate Reeves’s signature. Many believe the Governor’s approval is highly unlikely, as he vetoed a similar bill last year. Supporters of the bill argue the bill will bring hope to the inmates and save state taxpayers money by creating a smaller inmate population. They also point out that inmates will not automatically be released after the bill passes, it only offers the possibility of more offenders receiving parole–they would still have to demonstrate good behavior and reformed character to be released. It’s worth noting that the U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating Mississippi’s prison system, as the state has allowed for poor conditions and has failed to protect prisoners from harm. Lessening the prison population would be an excellent way to show the federal government that they are making moves to correct the system’s flaws.

We hope the Governor signs the bill into law and that more prisoners are given the opportunity to escape the vicious cycle of the criminal justice system. If you feel trapped or burdened by your criminal record, we might be able to help. Get in touch with Easy Expunctions to discuss your options and see if we can scrub your record clean.