There are thousands of Maine citizens who unnecessarily suffer under the burden of irrelevant arrest and criminal records that prevent them from getting jobs, housing, volunteer positions, or ever serving in the military. I was surprised to learn how common a problem this is: one out of four Americans has something on their record resulting from a brush with the law—often something as innocuous as getting busted for a prank, possession of a joint, or petty theft when they were “young and stupid”. I am fortunate that I never got caught for any of my youthful indiscretions, but I have many friends (as most of us do) who did, and I have seen how their lives have been negatively impacted.
At least two states (Minnesota and Illinois) have recognized that this problem is a detriment to society and have addressed it with thoughtful, bi-partisan legislation that allows for the expunging of certain arrest and criminal records when it can be shown that they are no longer useful—and in fact are harming the individuals involved by preventing them from fully integrating into mainstream society.
Representative Jennifer DeChant (Bath) has introduced LD 573 to address this problem in Maine. This bill deserves the support of the people of Maine, and the Legislature should give it careful consideration so that, as in Illinois and Minnesota, we end up with a bi-partisan, common-sense law that benefits Maine’s economy and social fabric.
The first public hearing on LD 573 takes place Monday, March 30 2015. If you have a story to tell please contact me at peter@peteralexander.us.
I am attaching below the current text of LD 573, and an article outlining some of the public benefits already being realized in Minnesota. Also attached are the texts of both the Illinois and Minnesota laws. Both states have carefully outlined the kinds of offenses that can be expunged, as well as the process by which different categories of offenses can be handled.
Text of LD 573 LD 573
Text of Illinois “Second Chance” law Illinoi Second Chance Law
Text of Minnesota “Second Chance” law Subdivision 3 (Minnesota Expungement Law)
Recent Media about Minnesota law’s benefits MInnestoa Second Chance law Media
What would a worthy social cause be without a song to support it? “Johnny D”, from the Promised Land album, tells the story of a friend of mine who got in trouble for doing things that all of us did as kids–only he got caught and we didn’t. Isn’t that the case with so many people who have brushes with the law?
Johnny D