Bill > S936

This bill aims to expand the expungement of juvenile and young adult records in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Expanding the definition of "expunge" to mean the permanent erasure or destruction of a record, with limited exceptions for statistical or research purposes. 2. Removing the limit on the number of records that can be expunged for individuals who do not have an adjudication or conviction. 3. Allowing expungement of records where the disposition did not include an adjudication or conviction, regardless of the number of records. 4. Reducing the waiting periods for expungement of felony records from 7 years to 3 years for misdemeanors or juvenile offenses. 5. Prohibiting the transmission of fingerprints and arrest records of minors to federal agencies, except for purposes of sealing or expungement. 6. Requiring the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to report annually on the number of petitions and outcomes for sealing and expungement of records. The bill aims to provide greater opportunities for individuals, particularly young people, to have their records expunged, which can help them overcome barriers to employment, housing, and other areas of life.