The bill proposes comprehensive reforms to New Jersey's expungement laws, aiming to simplify the process and expand eligibility for individuals seeking to clear their criminal records. Key amendments include the removal of previous restrictions that barred individuals with juvenile delinquency adjudications or certain adult convictions from applying for expungement. Instead, the bill introduces a requirement that three years must have passed since the payment of any court-ordered financial assessments, with provisions allowing applications to be filed sooner under specific circumstances. Additionally, the bill establishes an automated clean slate process that will render certain convictions and juvenile adjudications inaccessible to the public after a designated period, contingent on meeting specified conditions.

Moreover, the bill enhances the expungement process for individuals who complete the Recovery Court program, allowing for the expungement of all related offenses, including indictable crimes and municipal violations, without the prior requirement of having no new convictions during the program. It also streamlines the application process by permitting the inclusion of multiple offenses in a single petition and modifies the list of non-expungeable offenses to make certain crimes eligible for expungement. The bill emphasizes the importance of electronic filing and review, ensuring that petitioners receive necessary documentation related to their applications. Overall, these reforms aim to create a more accessible and equitable pathway for individuals seeking to expunge their criminal records in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:52-4.1, 2C:52-5.3, 2C:52-5.4, 2C:52-10.1