Mississippi lawmakers are considering a new law that would allow nonviolent offenders, including those with multiple offenses, to clear certain convictions from their criminal record ten to fifteen years after all terms and sentences have been completed. If passed, House Bill 122 will allow Mississippians with felony convictions to do a full 180, giving them the fresh start they deserve.
Individuals with two felonies may have their convictions expunged after ten years, and those with three may receive expungement after fifteen years. Lawmakers introduced a bill last year that would have allowed three felony convictions to be expunged after only five years, but legislators expressed rehabilitation concerns, fearing that five years may not be enough time for individuals to thoroughly change their lifestyle and decision habits. Due to public safety concerns, the previous bill was vetoed. However, Mississippi lawmakers appreciated the rejected bill’s forgiving intention, which ultimately prompted the proposal of HB 122.
The new law would not relieve habitual offenders nor those with violent convictions. Repubican Rep. Jansen, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the important role that time plays in rehabilitation:
“This targets those people who went through a span of their life where they made a lot of wrong decisions, somebody in their 20s who got a drug conviction at 22, 24, 27 and now they’re 50 and they go to church and they want a job and they want their kids to not see that they have this mark on them”
If the Senate passes this legislation, many Mississppians and their families will be faced with opportunities that have been inaccessible for years, giving rehabilitated citizens a well-earned second chance. If your criminal record is barring you from housing, educational, or employment opportunities, it’s time to take your life back into your own hands with help from Easy Expunctions. Start your journey toward a clear criminal record today and visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com.