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Florida Bill Proposed to Expunge Felony Records for Kids

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We’ve all been teenagers, so we know exactly how young and naive they can be. It’s easy to make bad decisions when you can’t fully understand the weight of the consequences. Regardless, young adults deserve the right to a clean record when a mistake was made at a young age. That’s why Florida Senator Keith Perry has introduced a bill that will expunge felony records for kids. Currently, the adolescents must complete a diversion program to have their records cleared, but right now it’s limited to juvenile expunction for misdemeanor offenses only. This bill would expand on that to permit juvenile diversion expunctions for any offense, including felony offenses.

Between 2018 and 2019 alone, roughly 5,000 kids were referred to juvenile diversion programs for felony offenses. If the Florida bill were to pass, it would allow those 5,000 youth to have their felony offense removed from their record and therefore able to live a better life. A young adult applying for a job with a felony on their record will get beat every time in the hiring process by someone with a clean record. Mistakes are just that—mistakes—and if a minor is willing to take responsibility for their wrongdoings by completing a diversion program, they deserve to have a clean record.

Although the Florida bill still has a few steps to go through before going into effect, it’s an excellent step in the right direction. Here at Easy Expunctions, we offer an affordable service to help people have their records cleared. A clean record comes with an empowered mind and the ability to go after the job you truly want. Don’t let your mistakes be the first thing a potential employer sees, get your record cleaned with Easy Expunctions today.

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Collateral Consequences

Washington Considers Faster Pathways to Restoring Rights After Felony Convictions

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Washington has three new bills in the works, and they all aim to help those who are repeatedly punished for their past criminal convictions.

It is estimated that one in every three Americans has a criminal record—meaning one in every three Americans has a difficult time finding a place to work, live, and go to school. There are some obstacles a criminal record can lead to that may not be well known, for example, volunteering. One of the proposed bills would help parents with criminal records by creating a more streamlined process for parents to apply to volunteer at their children’s schools. The bill establishes volunteer application requirements for schools that are made to ensure parents with criminal convictions are at least considered to volunteer if they possess a certificate of restoration.

Another bill the state is considering would restore voting rights to those with felony convictions immediately after release, even if they still have fees to pay and remain under community custody. More than 5.3 million Americans currently cannot vote due to a result of felony disenfranchisement, even though research shows that providing people the power to vote upon discharge reduces prison recidivism.

The last of the three new bills introduced in Washington seeks to help those with past criminal convictions clear their records. The Clean Slate Act would make the Administrative Office of the Courts accountable for forming a new process when reviewing criminal convictions to determine whether they are eligible to be vacated. If one’s offense has met the criteria, the Administrative Office of the Courts would vacate the offense. Some exclusions of the bill include violent offenses and DUIs. Full implementation is expected to occur on July 1, 2022. Washington is attempting to fix its justice reform system with these three bills, and more states are sure to follow. If you don’t live in Washington or can’t wait until 2022, check out www.easyexpunctions.com for a free record check and speak to our excellent customer service representatives. At Easy Expunctions, we work directly with you to find charges that can be cleared from your record. Don’t wait for the state to wake up and clear your record—get started today at Easy Expunctions.

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Collateral Consequences

Can I Get Public Housing If I Have a Felony Conviction?

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You may often hear that a criminal is more likely to break the law than a non-criminal, or that someone recently released from jail is highly likely to wind up back in jail. One reason for this is that the odds are against them—the odds of housing, that is. Imagine you get out of jail and you’re eager to turn your life around, but are unable to find the public housing you need. It’s no wonder many turn back to a life of crime when they don’t even a safe place to rest their head at night.

On the bright side, public housing for felons is possible, depending on the felony offense. There are two types of felony convictions that automatically disqualify applicants from receiving Section 8 housing vouchers. These include any crime that requires lifelong registration as a sex offender, and manufacturing methamphetamine in federally funded housing.

Although it varies case-to-case, what does it take for a convicted felon to quality for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs? HUD uses specific guidelines to determine if someone with any type of felony conviction is eligible. These regulations require that a felony must be older than five years, and contain possible disqualifications for applicants convicted of certain violent crimes, certain kinds of fraud, or drug trafficking. There may also be a disqualification based on a documented and untreated history of drug or alcohol abuse. If there’s a history of poor relations with neighbors that includes verbal or physical assaults, this can also be a disqualifying factor. Someone with a history of defaulting on rent payments may also be disqualified from receiving HUD housing. Despite all this information, it’s important to remember that each jurisdiction sets its own rules regarding public housing for convicted felons. Certain areas ban individuals with drug-related crimes from receiving Section 8 vouchers, so it’s best to check with the HUD office near you to see what rules are in place.

The housing authority tends to exclude individuals it believes “will risk the health and safety of other tenants.” They may disregard criminal convictions for anyone who presents evidence they’ve changed since conviction. Don’t let a messy criminal record hold you back for the rest of your life. At Easy Expunctions, we specialize in record clearing and have multiple packages available. Before you apply for HUD housing, visit www.easyexpunctions.com to get a free background check so you know exactly what’s on your record. From there we can work with helping you expunge qualifying charges for an affordable price. The best way to obtain HUD housing is with a clean record, so it’s definitely worth it to take the first steps towards wiping your record clean.

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Texas

Can Those With a Felony Conviction Vote in Texas?

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A Texas resident with a final felony conviction cannot register to vote in the state. However, these voting rights can be restored. In 1997, then-Gov George Bush signed a law that allows those who have completed the required punishment(s) for their felony conviction, whether a pardon, parole, probation, or a prison sentence to register or re-register to vote in Texas. An individual with a felony conviction must re-register to vote after completing their punishment before they can appear at the polls. There has been confusion regarding the definition of a final felony conviction–the following list provides further detail:

  • Deferred adjudication, or a type of probation that avoids a conviction if the individual completes the required terms, is not considered a final felony. 
  • A conviction on appeal is not considered a final felony.
  • Indictment, mere prosecutions, and other criminal procedures that lead up to, but do not yet result in the final conviction, are not considered a final felony.

If you try and go around the rules, there will be consequences. The Texas Department of Public Safety sends information on everyone with a final conviction to the Texas Secretary of State each week. The Secretary of State takes everything into consideration, including the risk of documenting an individual who was convicted under an alias, as well the possibility of a convicted felon to use an alias when registering to vote. Individuals with final felony convictions are analyzed very closely, and the likelihood of successfully voting without completing the required punishments is slim to none. If you vote before completing your sentence, the Texas attorney general’s office and local district attorneys’ offices can and will prosecute you. It is important to know your state’s voting laws because one simple mistake could result in another charge on your criminal record.

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