Latest Post
Blog
Author

Rommy Kassim

Browsing
Expunctions

New York Establishes Official Process for Eliminating Marijuana Conviction-Related Records

By

Any arrest, conviction, or other impasse with the criminal justice system can be traumatic and shocking. Convictions and offenses can cause damage to one’s reputation, the loss of jobs, the loss of necessary goods and services, shelter, and even custody of children. The inconvenience associated with a criminal offense is compounded when that offense is later deemed legal.

With the increase in states legalizing marijuana, this particular situation has become much more common. Individuals who were arrested and charged with crimes associated with marijuana are rightfully frustrated—their arrest, conviction, or offense likely cost them valuable time, their reputation, or was at the very least, extremely inconvenient, and now the offense is no longer a crime.

Luckily, states like New York have been making strides in amending its citizens’ unnecessary convictions. This summer, New York automatically expunged more than 150,000 individuals’ marijuana possession convictions. The state is now going one step further to allow these individuals the option to have the records associated with these convictions destroyed. This option requires a simple one-page form that is free to file.

This service can serve several purposes for its applicants. Expungement effectively seals one’s criminal record so that the offense becomes invisible in most situations. For example, if an individual attempts to obtain a handgun or become a police officer, an expunged offense is still visible to the pertinent authorities. Some people also suggest that the destruction of these records could provide much-needed and long-sought-after catharsis to these wronged citizens, even if they have no need for a handgun or to become a police officer.

While criminal justice reform gains momentum, plenty of individuals are still trapped under the thumb of a minor offense. A minor, dated, and unnecessary conviction should not cause more inconvenience and hardship in your life. Reach out to the experts at Easy Expunctions today to see if you’re eligible for an expunction.

Keep Reading
By
Housing

Looking for an Apartment? Here Are Some Stats on the Average Landlord’s Screening Process

By

If you have a criminal record, you’re probably aware that landlords are well able to dig up dirt on you. You will likely encounter difficulties finding a top-tier home, because of how easily accessible court records are to anyone who’s willing to take the time to look. What you might not know is the extent to which landlords factor this information when making decisions. 

According to a 2017 TransUnion survey which included 669 landlords across the US, 90% of the landlords say they run credit checks and criminal background checks on applicants. Additionally, 85% said they run eviction reports on applicants. The survey found that these are the top five factors landlords consider in tenant screening: 

  1. Income/Employment History
  2. Eviction History
  3. Criminal Background
  4. Credit History
  5. References

It may seem ludicrous that criminal background information is more important to them then references from actual human beings who personally know you. But in this survey, out of the seven biggest concerns involving renters, the highest concern was labeled simply as “troublesome tenants.” When asked how many properties they manage, the highest percentage of landlords stated they manage more than 10 properties, so many simply don’t have the time or the ability to get to know who you truly are as a person. They’ll judge you on impersonal court records because it’s the safest course for them to protect their assets. 

96% of these landlords agreed that tenant screening is beneficial in order to find the types of tenants they want living in their homes. 82% expect their use of technology services to screen tenants will increase as they continue working. In short: If you have a criminal record, it’s likely that the landlord of your dream house or apartment will find it. It’s also likely they’ll offer the lease to someone who doesn’t have any criminal history. 

Don’t let an old or bogus charge stop you from putting a roof over your head. Get in touch with Easy Expunctions to see if there’s something we can scrub from your record—we’ll get you started with a background check and work to identify qualifying charges that you can kiss goodbye. 

Keep Reading
By
Record Clearing Laws

Seth Rogen Voices Support for Cannabis Crime Expunctions, Citing Racist Policing

By

Seth Rogen has voiced support for the expungement of crimes related to cannabis use. The celebrity recently sponsored a panel to speak about racism within the war on drugs and the cannabis industry. The panel, “Reimagining Justice: Race, Cannabis, and Policing,” was organized by the Marijuana Policy Project. It featured discussions on the incarceration of cannabis users, the disproportionate arrests of people of color, and the ways in which expungement can rehabilitate those who have suffered from the criminal justice system. During the panel, Rogen explained, “The war on drugs was racist, is racist.” 

His claims are strongly backed by an ACLU report which found that Black people were 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people, despite white and Black people using cannabis at nearly the same rates. Targeting people of color for cannabis possession is perpetrated through politicians spreading the myth that cannabis use is more prevalent in Black communities. This false narrative has led to those with drug charges suffering even after cannabis becomes legalized in their state; suffering that Rogen and his colleagues believe can be healed through expungement.

Rogen described expungement as, “a step in correcting some of the wrongs and giving back some of the rights that these people, who have been negatively affected by the war on drugs, had taken away from them for no reason.” Rogen is currently working with National Expungement Week to raise awareness and education on expungement for those charged with cannabis crimes. 

If you or someone you know currently suffers under the oppression of the criminal justice system, please visit easyexpunctions.com to find out if you can expunge your unfairly acquired criminal record. We’ll get you started with a free background check and determine your eligibility for an expunction or nondisclosure. Get in touch with us today to take your first steps toward a fresh start. 

Keep Reading
By
Expunctions

Biden Pledges Federal Aid Toward Marijuana Crime Expunctions

By

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden took to the public to present his plan for racial equity and the economy moving forward. Fortunately, one major part of this plan includes further action taken on the part of the federal government to make the process of expunging cannabis-related charges easier and more efficient.

Biden acknowledged the tendency of the War on Drugs to target people of color, and the subsequent struggle these communities have undergone due to the corruption within the criminal justice system. Biden’s plan to amend expunction processes includes setting aside funding for states that wish to adopt new infrastructures meant to modernize criminal record data which will in turn make it possible to automate the expungement process.

In short, Biden’s plan sets aside federal funding specifically designated to make the expunction of non-violent crimes easier and more accessible. Biden believes that this plan will “advance a pathway for redemption and re-entry—and make real the possibility of second chances for all Americans—by helping states modernize their criminal justice data infrastructure and adopt automated record sealing for selected categories of non-violent offenses, to modernize their criminal justice data infrastructure.” In addition to creating the possibility of a second chance for those convicted of cannabis-related offenses, Biden’s team hopes that this will decrease the rate of recidivism by people who have previously been convicted of crimes. Through implementing this plan to allocate federal funding to make expunctions easier and more just, Biden intends to decrease the racial inequity from the War on Drugs, decrease the national rate of recidivism, and give as many people as possible a second chance. In the meanwhile, check out Easy Expunctions to learn how you can clear your record as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Keep Reading
By
More Act

Everything You Need to Know About VP Candidate Kamala Harris’ MORE Act

By

Since the criminalization of cannabis possession and distribution in 1937, countless individuals have been imprisoned, fined, and otherwise harshly punished for minor cannabis-related offenses. In 2018 alone, 663,000 individuals were arrested in connection to marijuana-related crimes, with Black Americans 3.6 times more likely to be arrested than white Americans. For years, many Americans have been advocating for the end of the racially-biased and nonsensical criminalization of marijuana.

Some politicians are attempting to raise awareness and address the super majority of Americans who support the decriminalization of cannabis. California Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris has come out in support of the MORE Act, which seeks to decriminalize cannabis. The MORE Act, if passed, would be a considerable step toward mending the damage that the criminalization of cannabis has caused.

The MORE Act seeks to completely deschedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This would make cannabis similar to alcohol in legality. Furthermore, the MORE Act would facilitate federal expungements of cannabis-related crimes and incentivize similar expungements in state and local governments. Under this act, disabled veterans would be allowed medical marijuana and deportation would not be threatened against immigrants with minor marijuana violations.

The MORE Act would do more for local communities than alleviate legal concerns. Cannabis production and distribution, when done legally, could provide thousands of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for Americans. Opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs would be created through the MORE Act to aid Americans in taking advantage of these possibilities.

Americans should not continue to be punished for marijuana-related offenses in certain states while the decriminalization of marijuana is seriously being considered. Reach out to Easy Expunctions today to see how our experts can clean your record. We’ll get you started with a free background check and determine your eligibility for an expunction or nondisclosure. Get in touch with us today to reclaim your record.

Keep Reading
By
Employment

FDIC Loosens Employment Requirements; Ex-Offenders Now Eligible for Banking Jobs

By

A one-time mistake shouldn’t land you in a pile of paperwork, financial distress, strict time constraints, and a lifetime of career obstacles and rejections. Luckily, many agencies have been taking action to help those with prior convictions avoid the life-altering and demeaning roadblocks previously mandated for even the smallest of legal mishaps.

One such agency is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which previously barred many individuals with prior convictions from working in banks. The FDIC recently issued a new and final ruling on Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) that is intended to help those with minor criminal records to find careers in the banking industry.

Section 19 of the FDI Act focuses on the restrictions the FDIC imposes on those seeking jobs within the banking industry. Individuals with any convictions involving a breach of trust, dishonesty, or money laundering, or who were connected with a crime related to those mentioned, needed to obtain written consent to work in the banking industry.

Under the new ruling of Section 19, many limitations on individuals with prior convictions have been lifted or minimized. Now, all expunged convictions are excluded from restrictions. Additionally, the de minimus exclusion has been expanded to include two de minimus crimes on one’s record instead of one. This expansion increases the de minimus exclusion threshold to small dollar theft from $500 to $1,000 and crimes committed by using fake IDs to circumvent age restrictions in buying products or entering premises.

This final ruling will replace the old ruling of Section 19, effectively saving roughly 30% of previously affected individuals from submitting applications altogether. This will help not only those affected by Section 19 restrictions, but also those working in financial institutions that regulate these applications.

Now more than ever, it’s crucial to get minor convictions expunged from your record. Don’t let minor mishaps get in the way of the stable career that you want. Reach out to the experts at Easy Expunctions to see how our record-clearing software can return your life to normal!

Keep Reading
By
Employment

Florida Governor Signs “The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act”

By

An unnecessary surplus of rules, regulations, and limitations have barred many Floridians from attaining stable, well-paying jobs and pursuing their ambitions for years. These restrictions often disproportionately affect those with criminal records and those with low-income, and prevent those individuals from bettering their lives.

Luckily, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recently taken a step to limit these restrictions and improve the job market for countless individuals. DeSantis recently signed The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act (also known as HB 1193), which reduces restrictions on licensure and decreases regulations on training, continued education, and jurisdiction to practice certain occupations.

This long-anticipated bill will save innumerable time and money for thousands of Florida citizens. The bill reduces the amount of training and education it takes to acquire a license for several professions (barbers and cosmetologists) and eliminates the licensure requirement altogether for certain occupations (interior designers and timekeepers). The bill also reduces, and in some cases eliminates, continued education requirements for certain professions, including public accountants and electrical contractors.

It is estimated that the bill will save applicants and license holders approximately $1,446,318 in the next two fiscal years and reduce state expenditures by roughly $58,680. Aside from money, the large regulatory burden for applicants and state agencies will be greatly reduced as unnecessary applications are made obsolete.

The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act will greatly benefit Floridians in their search for well-paying, fulfilling careers that meet and exceed their ambitions. Individuals affected by lower income and previous criminal records will be met with fewer restrictions.

Your criminal record should never hold you back from meeting your aspirations. Get in touch with our record-cleaning experts to see if you are eligible for an expunction today!

Keep Reading
By
Criminal Records

Florida’s 7th Circuit Introduces Civil Citation Program to Prevent Juvenile Criminal Records

By

If there’s anyone whose life shouldn’t be determined by a criminal record, it’s minors. Children should not be branded delinquents because of minor offenses, especially considering the fact that kids are more likely to make mistakes without considering the consequences.

Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit apparently agrees, as they’ve introduced a new program that will ensure complaints against juveniles are forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office, so that these kids will receive civil citations instead of criminal records.

A spokesman for State Attorney R.J. Larizza remarked that the goal was to have at least 80% of eligible cases handled as civil citations—these juveniles will be diverted towards treatment and mentoring programs rather than the criminal justice process. This will free up law enforcement to deal with more pressing issues, as well as lighten the load of clerical records for local courthouses.

Though juveniles who are arrested do not qualify for the changes, this is a productive way to ensure that kids do not have a difficult path as they grow into adults. It’s common knowledge that criminal records can follow kids into adulthood, so ensuring that they have mere citations will protect their economic, educational, and overall well-being.

If you’re tired of experiencing roadblocks due to your criminal record, an expunction might be the answer for you. Sign up for a free background report from Easy Expunctions to see if we can help open a door of opportunities and put your criminal past behind you.

Keep Reading
By
Expunctions

New Kentucky Bill Allows for Automatic Expunction of Certain Records

By

As criminal justice reform has been catching momentum in recent years, new eyes have found flaws in old, inefficient, and often prejudicial laws. Rep. Kevin Bratcher of Louisville, Kentucky recently addressed one such overlooked law, and passed a bill to reform it.

Prior to Rep. Bratcher’s passage of the new reform bill, Kentucky law stated that a crime which had been acquitted or dismissed with prejudice would remain on that individual’s record and would not be expunged. According to Rep. Bratcher, many Kentuckians including himself had no idea that the law even existed, and many immediately dismissed the law as inherently illogical.

With overwhelming support, the reform bill passed and will immediately expunge crimes dismissed or acquitted with prejudice. The passage of this reform bill is a great step for Kentucky in reforming their criminal justice system.

While criminal justice reform has come a long way in recent years, there are still many laws such as this one waiting to be reformed by those in office. Looking onward to 2021, Rep. Bratcher hopes to address the clear inequity of cash bail and continue criminal justice reform efforts while in office.

If you’ve been affected by the quickly changing criminal justice system, reach out to the experts at Easy Expunctions to see if you’re eligible for an expunction. Your record should not hold you back from living life on your terms; don’t wait to reclaim your life and reputation!

Keep Reading
By
Ban The Box

North Carolina Becomes Latest State to Ban the Box

By

It’s a good day when we’re able to celebrate another state implementing “Ban the Box” policies in an effort to help those with criminal records find jobs. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has officially signed an executive order meant to implement fair chance policies within state jobs.

These state agencies are no longer allowed to ask applicants about their criminal records. “Ban the Box” refers to the box on job applications that people were forced to check if they had any type of criminal record. This box prevented many people from being seriously considered, because it didn’t allow people to explain or elaborate on why/how they ended up with a criminal record. People should not be automatically excluded from a position, especially when the record in question could have absolutely nothing to do with the job they’re interested in.

During a state Department of Public Safety conference, Cooper noted the following:

“People will get a chance to shine and show themselves on their own merit when they’re going through the employment process… There’s a wealth of talent out there, a wealth of people who’ve made a mistake who are now about to come back into society who could be good employees.”

Certain jobs will still require disclosing criminal records, but this only applies to jobs that require a security clearance or law enforcement certification. For the 1.7 million North Carolinians with criminal records, this will open a door to opportunities that they didn’t previously have. The order takes effect on November 1st.

If you’re looking for a second chance, an expunction might be the right thing for you. Our record-clearing software was designed to be faster and less expensive than hiring an expunction lawyer. Get started today with a free background check from easyexpunctions.com, so we can figure out what’s on your record and what we could possibly make disappear.

Keep Reading
By