Starting at the end of this month certain people will be able to have certain offenses removed from their criminal record. The new law is not as far reaching as I would have hoped, but I do believe it is a start, and I believe that the State Legislators are seeing that some people do make mistakes in their lives and deserve second chances.

The new law will still allow for people to get arrests based on false information expunged, and it will still allow for certain DWI and MIP convictions to be expunged. However the new law will also allow the follow people to have a conviction expunged from their record:

1. Any felony or misdemeanor offense of passing a bad check under 570.120, fraudulently stopping payment of an instrument under 570.125, or fraudulent use of a credit or debit device under section 570.130;
2. Any misdemeanor offenses of negligently burning or exploding, tampering in the 2nd degree, property damage in the 2nd degree, trespass in the 1st degree, gambling, private peace disturbance, pubilc drunkenness; or
3. Any class B or class C misdemeanor offense involving peace disturbance.

As you can see this bill is very particular to not inlcude any violent offenses or drug offenses. The idea behind this bill was that some people are not able to obtain a gun to go hunting. I do believe that misdemeanor drug offenses should eventually become part of this list, but for right now this list is very specific.

If you have any questions about expungements or if you have questions about the new law please give me a call and I will see if my firm can be of assistance.