NEWS

Selected Mentions of Paper Prisons in the News

Minnesota Legislators Address Benefits of New Expungement Law (Nov. 7, 2023)

Though Minnesota already had an expungement act, the process proved too costly for many. On top of fees that could rise above $300, the procedure also took too long. These issues meant that few eligible individuals attempted expungement. A study by Santa Clara University found that only 5% of eligible Minnesota residents had their records expunged, though 60% of the individuals with criminal records were eligible.

The new Clean Slate Act also expands expungement eligibility. Though it does not eliminate criminal records, it does prevent them from appearing on standard background checks. As such, most landlords and potential employers will see the information. However, courts and law enforcement agencies can still access expunged records. Other agencies that maintain access include the Department of Human Services and licensing boards.

The Clean Slate Act will automatically expunge certain non-violent offenses. These include dismissed petty and gross misdemeanor offenses and completed diversion programs or stay-of-adjudications. However, individuals will have a waiting period before they qualify for the expungement. 

The waiting period is two years for a discharged petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor sentence. It is a three-year waiting period for a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, the individual must avoid accruing charges for other offenses during the waiting period. Crimes such as theft, property damage, receiving stolen property, fifth-degree drug possession or sale, and some financial crimes are often eligible. 

Furthermore, the Clean Slate Act can automatically expunge some felony offenses. However, it has carved exceptions to the automatic expungement. These include violent crimes and petty misdemeanors involving traffic regulations concerning operating or parking motor vehicles. These misdemeanors include the following:

  • “Fourth-degree driving while impaired
  • Violation of an order for protection
  • Fifth-degree assault 
  • Domestic assault
  • Violation of a harassment restraining order
  • Interference with emergency call
  • Obscene or harassing phone calls
  • Indecent exposure
  • Interference with privacy
  • Violation of domestic abuse no contact order

Or the following gross misdemeanors:

  • Second-degree driving while impaired
  • Third-degree driving while impaired
  • Violation of an order for protection
  • Fourth-degree or fifth-degree assault 
  • Domestic assault
  • Criminal neglect
  • Fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct 
  • Malicious punishment of a child
  • Escape from custody
  • Tampering with witness
  • Fourth-degree burglary 
  • Interference with privacy
  • Violation of a harassment restraining order
  • Harassment or stalking
  • Interference with emergency call
  • Indecent exposure
  • Nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images
  • Violation of domestic abuse no-contact order.”

This new law should give people who have earned a second chance expanded opportunities for both employment and housing. It could also help many employers due to the worker shortage. This law will not take effect until January 2025. Until then, employers can offer a second chance by considering whether an offense relates to the job. The best way to start a second chance program is to partner with a background check company experienced in second chance hiring.

Read original post.

17 comments

  1. I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  2. Just want to say your article is as surprising. The clarity to your publish is just great and that i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine along with your permission let me to grasp your RSS feed to keep up to date with imminent post. Thanks one million and please continue the gratifying work.

  3. I would like to show my affection for your kindness for individuals that should have help on the subject matter. Your very own commitment to passing the message around has been definitely invaluable and have surely encouraged workers like me to attain their ambitions. Your useful facts entails a lot a person like me and even further to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.

  4. Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.

  5. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

  6. What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more neatly-appreciated than you might be right now. You’re so intelligent. You understand therefore significantly in terms of this topic, made me in my view imagine it from numerous numerous angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be fascinated until it’s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs great. At all times deal with it up!

  7. Hello, Neat post. There is an issue with your site in internet explorer, may test this?K IE still is the market chief and a huge section of other people will leave out your fantastic writing because of this problem.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Partners

The Paper Prisons Initiative is a project of Santa Clara University that is made possible through the support of our collaborators and partners

Contact Us

If you wish to contact us, please fill out the entire form below and press the "Send Message" button. If you wish to sign up for email updates from us, please only fill out your name and email in the form below and press the "Sign Up for Updates" button.

info@paperprisons.org

A project of
Santa Clara University

© 2021 Santa Clara University

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Cookie Policy