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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 10, 2015 01:44 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ronald G. Waters |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Expungement of Record for Wrongfully Convicted |
| Imagine spending 10, 20 years in prison for a crime you didn't commit. You fight for DNA testing which eventually provides irrefutable proof of your innocence and charges are withdrawn. Finally, you are freed with nothing more than the shirt on your pack and the change in your pocket that you came to prison with. No apologies, no compensation. You have the grace to put it all behind you and move on with your life. You try to make up for lost time with your family...reacquaint yourself with the community and church. You're back in the real world and need a job. But the nightmare isn't over. No one will consider hiring you because you have a felony on your record. You've spent years in prison. You MUST have been guilty. Why would you have a record otherwise? Because in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, current law completely fails to address individuals exonerated of crimes post conviction. In fact, section 9122 (b) of the crimes code dictates that criminal history records cannot be expunged unless the individual has reached the ago of 70 and is free of arrest for 10 years or he has been DEAD for three years. I plan to introduce legislation that rectifies Pennsylvania's unfair and inflexible expungement law with respect to those that have been wrongfully convicted and subsequently exonerated. If you have any questions, please contact Timothy Scott at tscott@pahouse.net or 717-787-3172 x6451. |
Introduced as HB788
Memo Updated: February 10, 2015 01:45 PM