Bill > S947

This bill aims to support survivors of trafficking and abuse by allowing them to expunge or seal records of offenses they committed as a result of their victimization. The key provisions are: 1. It expands the eligibility for record expungement or sealing to include offenses committed by victims of abuse, human trafficking, or forced sexual relations due to fear, duress, coercion, or intimidation by the perpetrator. 2. It creates a rebuttable presumption that the defendant's participation in the offense was connected to their victimization if they provide official documentation from a community-based or government agency attesting to their victim status, though such documentation is not required. 3. It allows judges to seal court records without a waiting period for offenses committed by victims of the aforementioned acts, if the judge finds a connection between the offense and the victimization and that sealing the record best serves the interests of justice. 4. It specifies that sealed or expunged records cannot be made available for inspection by any person, unless otherwise provided by law. The overall goal is to remove barriers to opportunities for survivors of trafficking and abuse by facilitating the expungement or sealing of related criminal records.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S947