Bill > S1002

This bill aims to support survivors of trafficking, abuse, and involuntary sexual relations by enabling the expungement and/or sealing of records related to offenses that occurred as a result of their victimization. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "victim of act(s) constituting abuse, human trafficking, or involuntary sexual relations" to establish eligibility criteria. 2. Allowing petitions for record expungement or sealing for offenses that occurred due to the petitioner's victimization, with a rebuttable presumption if the petitioner can provide official documentation. 3. Prohibiting the disclosure of sealed records without a court order and allowing individuals or their legal representatives to access their own sealed records. 4. Modifying the language in existing laws to use the term "petitioner" instead of "defendant" and removing certain restrictions on the types of offenses eligible for expungement or sealing. 5. Streamlining the petition process by allowing the court to grant petitions without a hearing if the requirements are met or if the court finds justice so requires.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1002