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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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Employment

Florida Governor Signs “The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act”

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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!

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Criminal Records

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

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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.

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Seal Criminal Records

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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Jury Duty

Man Who Received 10 Days in Jail for Missing Jury Duty Will Likely Have His Record Expunged

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The Criminal Justice System is both flawed and ever-changing. Without expungement opportunities, many American citizens would be forced into wearing a permanent scarlet letter as a consequence for non-threatening, ordinary mistakes–like accidentally sleeping through jury duty.

            21-year-old Deandre Somerville, a Florida resident without any criminal history, recently overslept and did not appear for jury duty. Florida Judge John Kastrenakes ordered Somerville to complete a 10-day jail sentence, one-year probation, 150 hours of community service, a 100+ word apology letter, and pay $233 in fines as punishment for the crime. Naturally, this absurd punishment attracted attention from news outlets, social media, and some federal lawmakers, including Representative Ilhan Omar.

            The judge decided to rescind the probation after Somerville read an open letter to the court following his jail sentence. In the letter, Somerville admitted to making an “immature decision” and added that he did not have a criminal record prior to sleeping through jury duty. The Judge’s decision to vacate the contempt finding and sentence of probation was likely brought upon by Somerville’s letter to the court, his lack of criminal history, the publicity surrounding the case, and Rep. Ilhan Omar’s argument that the criminal justice system is “designed to criminalize people of color.” The right step was made to relieve a trustworthy, respectable man from undeserved probation. Somerville’s lawyer added that his client would proceed with “getting his record completely expunged now that the case is over.”

This is just another example of why it’s important for us to have the ability to erase criminal records of those whose crimes don’t match the punishment. If Somerville follows through with the expungement, his criminal record will be destroyed, and he will be given a second chance to live freely without sacrificing any civil liberties. It will be like he never even overslept in the first place.

Don’t let small mistakes place a limit on your life forever. Visit easyexpunctions.com today for affordable, easy record-clearing services.

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