The Montana Supreme Court passed a temporary rule which assists in the expunction of marijuana-related convictions. This new rule will hopefully help clear up confusion over how previous convictions of pot-related offenses may have their records cleared.

The court system has a history of valuing money over deservingness. Expensive court fees and fines add up quickly, which places low-income Americans at a greater likelihood of poverty than expunction. A criminal record places barriers on housing, jobs, and licensing opportunities, making the path to a fresh start only possible for people who have the finances to pay off all court debts and fees.

The “Ban the Box” policy is now officially in effect for the federal government. This policy is aimed at supporting qualified candidates with criminal histories to compete for employment by barring the requirement of discussion and reporting of such criminal histories until after a conditional offer of employment.

Rhode Island is following in the footsteps of the many states seeking to reap the benefits of legalizing recreational marijuana with the introduction of a legalization bill that also includes a “Social Equity” measure which will provide the means to expunge the records of those with prior convictions.

With the rates of arrests rising to nearly one in three adults in the United States, employers may want to reconsider the implications of criminal histories in potential employees. A recent study discovered that almost half of the United States’ unemployed men have criminal records.

Ranking third in the country for overall incarceration rates, Oklahoma is seeking to reform its criminal justice system. HB3316, the “Clean Slate” law, would provide automatic expunctions for those eligible for the program, streamlining the record-clearing process. Currently, Oklahoma provides the option of expunction to eligible individuals.

Ann Arbor, MI is revolutionizing its criminal justice system by utilizing marijuana tax revenue to fund free expunctions for qualifying participants. In an effort to rehabilitate and empower those with criminal histories, the city of Ann Arbor is offering record clearing at no cost for the removal of previous misdemeanor and felony charges in just a few simple steps.

There’s been a lot of talk about marijuana policy reforms in Alabama, but the approval of a new bill that would decriminalize and provide expungements for marijuana-related charges offers real hope for Alabamians living with outdated convictions on their criminal record. The proposed legislation is sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton (D), and is currently awaiting approval from the Senate.

West Virginia’s House of Delegates recently adopted the bill HB 4522 that provides automatic expunction for those with qualifying criminal records. Although state law already allows for expunction via petitioning the court, this new house bill will help expedite the process and maximize the use of expunction.

A criminal conviction shouldn’t weigh heavier than a skillset, and it’s time for major companies to enforce better assessments of qualifications. Amazon.com Inc and The Gap are facing proposed class-action lawsuits for allegedly violating the New York state law that prohibits employers from denying jobs based on an individual’s criminal record.