Lawmakers Discuss Ways to Make Clearing a Criminal Record Easier

Hawaiʻi lawmakers are expanding a program to automatically expunge records for certain minor drug offenses—such as low-level marijuana charges or excessive purchases of over-the-counter medications—to help improve people’s economic and social standing.

The recent arrest of a Michigan councilman has prompted some national media outlets to target the state’s Clean Slate law. This opinion piece responds to the coverage.

Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law achieves its 2025 goal by eliminating auto-sealing backlog, marking a milestone in automated criminal record clearance and second-chance reform.