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Expungement in the News

Gomez, Alan. "Canada Stiffens Border Checks, Lawyers Say"  USA Today 21 January 2008

Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to get into Canada, as border agents with better access to American criminal databases are turning people back for offenses ranging from assault to drunken driving to shoplifting.

"Broken Criminal Records"  The Boston Globe 22 May 2007

PEOPLE CONVICTED of crimes in Massachusetts aren't exiled to faraway Devil's Island or Siberia, and the vast majority of those sent to prison in the state do get out at some point. So then what? Ex-cons are less likely to fall back into crime if they can establish law-abiding lives upon their release.

Sullivan, Bob. "The Red Tape Chronicles 'The Penalty: A Digital Scarlet Letter'."  MSNBC News Online 13 March 2007. http://redtape.msnbc.com 

Nearly every crime is now entered into massive databases that track transgressions nationwide. Increasingly, these databases are available to almost anyone for the asking -- law enforcement, border agents, foreign governments, future employers, even nosy neighbors.

Liptak, Adam. "Expunged Criminal Records Live to Tell Tales"  The New York Times 17 October 2006

In 41 states, people accused or convicted of crimes have the legal right to rewrite history. They can have their criminal records expunged, and in theory that means that all traces of their encounters with the justice system will disappear.

"Senate Judiciary Committee Sets May 21 Hearing on Expungement of Criminal Records and Use of Criminal Records in Hiring"  Pennsylvania Senate Republican Communications 17 May 2007. www.prnewswire.com 

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced that the committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 21, at 11 a.m. in the Senate Majority Caucus Room to receive testimony relating to the expungement of certain criminal records (Senate Bill 232) and the use of criminal records for employment (Senate Bill 1060 of last session).

Miller, Steve. "Free Help For Ex-Offenders Offered At 'Expungement Summit'." 
WBBM 780 10 May 2007 www.wbbm780.com 

CHICAGO (WBBM) - As many as three thousand people who want to get their lives back on track are expected Saturday at Congressman Danny Davis' Expungement Summit for ex-offenders.

Jones, Arlene. "Lawmakers Should Help Ex-Offenders Before Illegal Aliens"  Austin Weekly News 9 May 2007. www.austinweeklynews.com 

Carmen woke up upon hearing the loud bang on the door. As she crawled out of bed and peeked through her bedroom door, she could hear the loud male voices. She saw guns. Really big guns! She heard the men screaming to her mother, "Where is Cortez?" "We want Cortez!"

Tate, Deborah. "U.S. Senate Votes to Deny Citizenship to Illegal Immigrants with Criminal Record"  Voice of America 17 May 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate Wednesday continued work on an immigration reform bill, voting to bar illegal immigrants with criminal records from becoming U.S. citizens and build a fence along a portion of the U.S. border with Mexico.

Nevius, C.W. "Going to Canada? Check Your Past: Visitors with Minor Criminal Records Turned Back at Border"  San Francisco Gate 23 Feb. 2007 www.sfgate.com 

There was a time not long ago when a trip across the border from the United States to Canada was accomplished with a wink and a wave of a driver's license. Those days are over.