Bill > H1451

This bill aims to expand the expungement of juvenile and young adult records in Massachusetts. It makes the following key changes: 1. Removes the first sentence of Section 60A of Chapter 119, which previously limited expungement only to certain juvenile records. 2. Expands the definition of "expunge" to mean the permanent erasure or destruction of a record, allowing for the maintenance of non-identifying statistical data. 3. Removes the limitation on the number of records that can be expunged (previously no more than 2) and allows for the expungement of any criminal or juvenile record where the disposition did not include an adjudication or conviction. 4. Reduces the waiting period for expungement from 7 years to 3 years for misdemeanors and juvenile offenses. 5. Prohibits the expungement of certain serious offenses resulting in death, serious bodily injury, or certain sex offenses. 6. Requires law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to stop transmitting fingerprints and records related to juvenile arrests to federal agencies, except for the purpose of requesting sealing or expungement. 7. Mandates the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to collect and report annually on various statistics related to sealing and expungement petitions. The overall goal of this bill is to make the expungement process for juvenile and young adult records more accessible and comprehensive in the state of Massachusetts.