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Criminal Records

MyLife Sued for Luring Customers Into Paying to See Their Own Information

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Another background check company has come under fire, this time for baiting customers into purchasing packages by using false or misleading information.

MyLife is a website that operates by pulling together criminal records and public information on you, then compiling it and generating a “reputation score.” It makes this information available to everyone and promises to offer you “contact info & detailed background reports on anyone”… for a price, of course. It basically baits you into paying for a monthly membership, and while it has information on people you know, it mostly entraps customers by claiming it has personal information on them. 

For Brion Finlay of Minnesota, MyLife’s web page said that “Brion DOES have Arrest or Criminal Records,” and “This may include DUIs, traffic tickets, and outstanding warrants.” Imagine a targeted link that claims to have information about you that you didn’t know about. Of course, you’re going to be tempted to click it, and fork over some cash to make sure it isn’t something serious. The monthly plan MyLife would charge you to see this information costs around $15. 

Finlay filed a class-action lawsuit that claims, “MyLife’s true business appears to be a classic cyber extortion scheme whereby the company posts negative information online in the hope that individuals will ‘claim’ the page… by enrolling in a monthly plan.” His lawyer clarified that he doesn’t have anything on his record other than minor traffic tickets, but MyLife wrongly suggested there was something worse. And as long as it suggested this, it could be harder for Finlay to get a job. 

MyLife currently has 13,777 (and counting) customer complaints via the Better Business Bureau, along with a D rating. They have been sued for inaccurate information and luring people into paying for information. In short, they profit off causing people stress. 

We want to do the opposite. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and that a criminal record should not hold you back or determine how successful you can become. If you’re tired of having your criminal record pop up on odd corners of the internet, give us a call. An expunction could rid all records and let you live without the burden of your past.

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Sacramento

A New Sacramento Bill Would Seal 2 Million Criminal Records

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Sacramento is on track to seal 2 million criminal records with a new proposed bill that came out on Monday and is currently backed by district attorneys. The legislation is an effort to remove restrictions for those with criminal records so they can find work and housing. The bill would essentially seal low-level criminal records for approximately 2 million people.

Those low-level criminal records have a lot more impact than one might think. A one-time, 10-year-old mistake will haunt a lot of people in the realm of jobs and housing. The goal is to help people move on from their mistakes without the stigma of a criminal record. The proposed bill would automatically clear records dating back to 1973 if it was put into effect. Expungements are already available in California, but can cost thousands of dollars in attorney fees per charge. This bill would make it more accessible to seal low-level criminal records and a lot cheaper because they wouldn’t need to petition in front of a judge. The bill will not allow for the sealing of domestic violence and impaired driving charges, officials reported.

The new Sacramento bill is a great thing for not only those with criminal records but the general public as well. If people with a criminal history can find housing and employment, it reduces their chances of re-offending, therefore saving potential victims of crimes. A similar bill was brought up last year in Sacramento. Although the bill was killed, its initial focus wasn’t to seal records like this one is. The bill from last year did have an idea about software that could scan criminal charges each month and automatically clear qualifying charges. They hope to create or find software with these capabilities to smoothen the process of scanning if the bill is passed.

Easy Expunctions is also working to give more people access to a clean record. We offer a free background check to get you started. From there we can work directly with you in identifying qualifying charges to be expunged from your record. Don’t let your life come to a halt because of a few simple mistakes. Easy Expunctions can help you clean up your record for a fraction of the cost of a lawyer!

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Clean Slate

Connecticut Considers Clean Slate Proposal

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A clean slate doesn’t come cheap to most people with criminal records. It can take a lot of time and money to petition a judge to expunge a charge. Fortunately, states are beginning to notice the damaging repercussions that low-level criminal charges are having on their citizens. Connecticut is the most recent state to jump on the bandwagon with a “clean slate” proposal that would expunge criminal records for those who qualify.

Supporters of the bill gathered in Hartford to express their feelings about the proposal, explaining that those who pay their debts to society should be eligible for a fresh start. A poll conducted of Connecticut voters showed they strongly support erasing criminal records once the offenders go a certain amount of time without committing another crime. Discrimination comes in many forms, but a quite overlooked form is that of people with criminal records who just want a fresh start at a productive life.

People who have records are engaged in a constant battle of trying to overcome the burden of their charges. If someone was arrested and convicted of a non-violent crime, did their time, paid their debt to society, and remained law-bidding citizens after, why should they have to continue to suffer from a record? Connecticut is trying to fix the discrimination of the criminal justice system by expunging the records of low-level crimes. Someone shouldn’t spend their whole life with a scarlet letter on their job application for a simple mistake.

Expunging non-violent crimes for those who have paid their debts and remain law-abiding citizens will help to reduce recidivism rates by putting people to work and preventing them from returning to a life of crime. Easy Expunctions knows how much a criminal record can affect employment, housing, and education opportunities. If you’re battling with your criminal record, we can help you identify qualifying charges to clear. We offer a free background check to get you started and can work directly with you in cleaning up your record so you can have the fresh start you deserve.

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Criminal Records

Employers Can’t Immediately Disqualify Applicants With Criminal Records Under New Boise Bill

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The advantages of a clean record go way beyond what most people realize. The sad fact is that one simple mistake can take years and years to recover from. One of the biggest downfalls of a messy criminal record is that people miss out on employment opportunities. The second an employer sees that you checked the box saying you’ve been charged with a felony, your application is oftentimes thrown out the window.

A new Boise bill that was unanimously approved requires employers to consider someone’s qualifications for a position before asking them to disclose their criminal history. The bill is being called the Fair Chance Employment Act and it aims to help those who have been previously incarcerated return to the workforce. A lot of applicants with criminal records are taken out of consideration before the rest of their application is even read—the Fair Chance Employment Act states that an employer can’t ask about prior convictions until the applicant has been deemed a potential job candidate.

Those who have done their time and paid their debt to society should be welcomed back into the workforce. Imagine being convicted of a non-violent offense at the age of 20 and suffering from it until you’re old and grey. That’s not the way our criminal justice system should operate. People can find themselves in the wrong places at the wrong times, people can make mistakes, and people can act without thinking—especially when they’re young. These people deserve the chance to reintegrate back into society without falling victim to the growing recidivism rates.

If you have a criminal record that’s holding you back, Easy Expunctions might be able to help you out. We offer a free background check to get you started, and then work directly with you to find charges that qualify for expungement. A 20-year-old mistake can come back to haunt you at any time, so it’s highly beneficial to make sure your mistakes are wiped clean. Visit www.easyexpunctions.com to learn more about our multiple, affordable, record-clearing packages.

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Criminal Records

Maine Seeks to Expunge Nonviolent Criminal Records That Create “Second-Class Citizens”

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Maine is finally recognizing and attempting to correct the flaws in its criminal justice system. Those who have been released from jail are walking around with “scarlet letters,” as described by state representative Thom Harnett. As of right now, thirty-four states have some kind of legislation in place that allows people to have their criminal records expunged. Maine is not one of those states… yet.

A new proposed law in Maine would enable those convicted of a Class E, Class D or Class C crime to petition the court to expunge the charge five years after they have completed their sentence. The law would have exclusions such as pending criminal charges and crimes involving bribery, corruption, violence, or sex offenses. This law is being pushed because the Maine legislature is finally noticing that the consequences of committing a crime are regularly outlasting the court sentences and essentially creating “second-class citizens.” The big red mark on ex-convicts’ criminal records can immediately take them out of the running for employment, housing, and education opportunities. This bill attempts to give them a fighting chance by facilitating the reintegration process once their charges are expunged.

The suggested bill is also receiving quite a bit of backlash from the local media. Some are arguing that a better life for those with criminal records shouldn’t put the general public at risk by not being aware of someone’s criminal record. One reporter even suggested that the law should not apply to Class C crimes, which is the lowest felony offense charge in Maine. Lawmakers responded to the backlash by pointing out the detrimental effects one simple mistake can cause in a person’s life. Maine is on the right track and will proceed to pursue this legislation as the bill is further vetted by the committee before it faces a vote. If you’re living with a conviction or arrest that is hindering your success, visit www.easyexpunctions.com today. Get started with a free background check and begin the process of wiping your record clean with one of our affordable record clearing packages today.

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Background Checks

Illinois Law Reduces Restrictions on Opening Businesses for Those With Criminal Records

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Illinoisans with a criminal record now have more job opportunities, as House Bill 2760 took effect on January 1st. This new law reduces restrictions on applying for professional licenses. It’s essentially a very productive afterthought to a 2017 bill created for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to use when deciding if an applicant is fit for a job. The law declares that a criminal record should not prevent someone from acquiring a license.

While the department doesn’t exactly deny too many people—a recent study found fewer than 1 percent of eligible license applicants were denied because of past convictions—this law addresses public perception that would cause someone to not apply for fear of rejection.

An increase in people receiving professional licenses and opening new businesses are great indicators of economic prosperity in Illinois. This law will grant reformed convicts the opportunity to provide for loved ones, hire employees, pay taxes, and stimulate the local economy. Illinois is attempting to help put people to work and increase its tax base.

The IDFPR welcomes all applications but uses mitigating factors to choose who will be accepted. Some of these factors include the completion of a sentence, a progress report from a probation or parole officer, evidence of rehabilitation, and the lack of relation between the person’s conviction and duties of the job sought. If they do reject an applicant, rest assured that they must explain the reason for denial.

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Employment

Can You Become a Lawyer if You Have a Criminal Record?

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In order to become a lawyer, an individual must demonstrate good moral character. Every state will subject a candidate to a moral character examination, which includes information regarding education, addresses, and criminal charges. It is possible to become a lawyer with a criminal record, but you must disclose the crime and make your case to the bar association in your state or province.

Your ability to become a lawyer depends heavily on the severity of the crime you’ve committed. For instance, a record for fraud will likely bar you from a career in finance law, but you could still plan to pursue a career in criminal law if you demonstrate moral fitness and appropriate rehabilitation. A felony conviction only bars you from practicing law in three states: Kansas, Mississippi, and Texas. There is no absolute ban on convicted felons in other jurisdictions, but expunction significantly reduces certain hardships faced by felons when pursuing a career in law. Timing also plays a role in lawyer eligibility. If you committed the crime before attending law school, it may be easier to convince your state that you have been properly rehabilitated. Summed up, you can become a lawyer as long as you’ve convinced your state that you are morally fit for the job. However, it is often difficult for individuals with a criminal record to demonstrate good moral character compared to individuals without a criminal record.

Technically, you do not have to get your record expunged to become a lawyer, but the moral character examination would run a whole lot smoother without a criminal record. You are legally obligated to disclose all convictions, and dishonesty will certainly cause you to fail the examination. If you have a criminal record, expunction would be the fastest and easiest way for you to pursue a career in law. If your criminal charges are expunged, you can act as if the crime never happened, and you can erase the anxiety of having to explain yourself to the bar of your state.

For information on easy and affordable online expunctions and record sealing, contact Easy Expunctions at (866) 899-0266 or visit our website at easyexpunctions.com.

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Immigration

The New Way Forward for Immigrants With Criminal Records

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Many immigrants have been living in fear of deportation for the past 23 years. The New Way Forward Act is a milestone bill that restores due process protections for all immigrants, including those in deportation proceedings. 

The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, along with the Illegal Immigration Reform and the Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 restricted immigration judges from considering multiple factors regarding a person’s deportation. It didn’t matter if these people were parents, caregivers, leaders, or fully rehabilitated individuals, the law forced immigration judges to treat these human beings as aliens. By disregarding the titles and personal lives of immigrants, the 1996 government dehumanized those who lacked American citizenship, which laid the groundwork for the current administration’s policies.

In 2017, President Trump issued an executive order that targeted the removal of anyone without legal status and a criminal record. It even subjected those with a green card to deportation if they had committed a certain crime within seven years of entry. The Trump Administration has also been using visa sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and other tactics to renegotiate repatriation agreements, including the 2008 agreement that protected Vietnamese immigrants who entered the U.S. before July 12, 1995 from deportation. Since then, hundreds of non-violent refugees with decades-old convictions have been detained by ICE.

The long-overdue New Way Forward Act eliminates mandatory detentions, creates a five-year statute of limitations for deportations, and it enforces fair treatment for all immigrants through the nation’s judicial system. This bill is just one tiny solution to the devastating consequences brought on by the unfair policies created in the 90s. The New Way Forward Act will steer our government away from past mistakes and guide our nation forward into a better future.

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Immigration

The Difficulties Gaining Citizenship With a Criminal Record

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A criminal history places bars on citizenship, making the process of obtaining US citizenship extremely lengthy and difficult for those with a record. Some crimes impose temporary bars while others impose permanent bars, and the crime’s level of severity depends on the USCIS’s perception of the crime. If the USCIS believes the crime you’ve committed demonstrates a “lack of moral character” they may deny your application altogether.

Those who have been convicted of murder or an aggravated felony after November 29, 1990 are permanently barred from citizenship. The USCIS cannot override a permanent bar and they will likely be subject to deportation once the conviction is discovered. An aggravated felony is defined according to specific immigration rules, meaning it goes beyond the felonies defined by state law. Aggravated felonies under immigration rules include rape, sexual abuse of children, child pornography, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, theft if the defendant was sentenced to a year or more in prison, and fraud over a certain amount. Minor crimes including resisting arrest or DUI may also be considered an aggravated felony under immigration rules, as well as assisting a foreign national in illegally entering the US unless the national was your spouse, parent, or child.

If you have a temporary bar on citizenship, the clock for the residency requirement restarts on the date that the crime was committed. The foreign national must wait five years before applying for citizenship in most cases, and three years for other situations. Waiting the required period of time does not guarantee consideration for citizenship. The USCIS can deny an application if an individual’s criminal record demonstrates a lack of moral character, and that is heavily dependent on the official’s perception of the crime. Crimes that place a temporary bar on citizenship include prostitution, solicitation, drug possession, minor forms of fraud, and possession of over thirty grams of marijuana in any state, regardless of legalization laws. There is an exception for possession of marijuana in an amount of thirty grams or less, but any conviction on a criminal record may make the process of obtaining citizenship significantly harder than for those with clear records. Although immigration rules regarding convictions place large restrictions on an individual’s ability to gain citizenship, you should not make any false statements on your application. The USCIS will have access to your criminal record when they conduct the fingerprint check, and lying will likely demonstrate a lack of moral character.

If you have any questions regarding your criminal record’s impact on your ability to obtain US citizenship, you should contact an immigration attorney to evaluate your specific criminal record.

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Gun Rights

How a Criminal Record Will Affect Your Gun Ownership Rights

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Federal law completely prohibits gun possession by felons, but state laws regarding the ability to purchase a gun with a criminal record vary. In Texas, a person with a felony conviction is allowed to possess a firearm on-premise where he/she lives, five years after the disposition of his/her conviction. Although Texas is a pro-gun state, licensed gun dealers typically do not allow those convicted of violent crimes to purchase a gun under any circumstances.

In Texas, you are not allowed to purchase a gun within five years of your felony conviction. Those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors are also prohibited from purchasing a gun within the five-year mark. Generally, if you’ve been convicted of any domestic violence-related charges, you will be barred from buying a gun in Texas for at least five years, and most licensed gun dealers will refuse your request even after the five-year mark.

Texas law allows those with felony convictions to possess a firearm five years after conviction only on the premises where he/she lives. Those with felony convictions are not allowed to carry a gun outside of the premises of their home, even in Texas. Violation of this law is considered a felony crime in itself, and is usually punishable by a prison sentence of one to three years, along with other fines and fees.

Overall, even if state law allows those with a criminal record to possess a firearm, most licensed gun dealers will deny their request. The only way to restore your gun ownership rights is to have the conviction expunged or removed from your criminal record. As long as you maintain a clean criminal record after the expunction, your background check should not continue to bar you from legally obtaining a firearm in Texas.

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