By Rachel Looker
Citizens who committed low-level crimes in the state of Utah are getting a second chance to have a “clean slate” thanks to Salt Lake County and the passing of House Bill 431. Utah is the second state (after Pennsylvania) to pass an automatic expungement bill for eligible citizens who committed low-level crimes. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, signed the Expungement Act Amendments bill at the end of March. The bill alters the current expungement process and will go into effect in May 2020. Expungement is a “process by which a record of criminal conviction is destroyed or sealed from state or federal record.” This process allows an individual to answer “no” when asked whether they have ever been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.
Source: JusticeCenter