National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Urge Your Legislators to Support Second Chances
Over the past few decades, the collateral consequences of an arrest or a conviction have become more severe, more public and more permanent. These consequences affect virtually every aspect of daily life, including employment and licensing, housing, education, public benefits, credit and loans, immigration status, parental rights, interstate travel, and even volunteer opportunities. Collateral consequences can be an individual's most serious punishment, permanently relegating them to a second-class status. 

Expungement is one of the most effective tools in the criminal legal system for restoring rights and status. In recent years, dozens of states have recognized this and expanded expungement and record-sealing eligibility to a wider range of conviction and non-conviction records. Yet existing federal law provides extremely limited expungement opportunities, even for low-level offenses. H.R. 4958/S. 2596 would expand expungement eligibility for individuals charged with simple drug possession by removing the requirement that such individuals were under 21 years old at the time of the offense in question. 

It's time that the federal system embraced second chances, and H.R. 4958/S. 2596 is a critical step in the right direction. 

Please urge your legislators to support this important piece of legislation. 

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