Bill > H1811

This bill establishes an automated record sealing process for criminal and juvenile court records in Massachusetts, eliminating the need for individuals to manually petition to have their records sealed after specified waiting periods. Under the new law, the Commissioner of Probation must automatically seal misdemeanor records after 3 years and felony records after 7 years, provided the person has not been convicted of another offense during those waiting periods. Certain serious offenses, such as those related to animal cruelty, public corruption, and sex offenses, are excluded from automatic sealing. The bill requires correctional facilities and criminal justice agencies to report monthly the release dates of individuals to facilitate record tracking and sealing. For sex offenses, individuals must still actively request record sealing. The legislation also applies similar automated sealing procedures to juvenile court records, with a 3-year waiting period. The Commissioner of Probation must provide notice to individuals about potential record sealing and ensure that sealed records remain accessible to the individual or their legal representative upon request. The bill will take effect 18 months after passage, with the Commissioner required to begin the automated sealing process by that date and seal all eligible historical records within three months of the effective date.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1811