Publication: WitnessLA
On Wednesday, the California Assembly passed two bills that seek to bring equity to California’s criminal justice system.
AB 1076, a bill to automate the expungement process statewide, and AB 1331, a bill that would expand California’s collection of criminal justice system data.
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AB 1076, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco)–in partnership with SF District Attorney George Gascón–would automatically complete expungement and resentencing processes for people convicted of eligible low-level offenses (not violent or sexual crimes), as well as people whose arrests never resulted in convictions, as long as the statute of limitations has passed.
“Eight million California residents have criminal convictions on their records that hamper their ability to find work and housing, secure public benefits, or even get admitted to college,” according to Californians for Safety and Justice, the bill’s sponsor. “Millions more have old arrests on their record that never resulted in a conviction but remain as obstacles to employment. Nearly 90% of employers, 80% of landlords, and 60% of colleges screen applicants’ criminal records.”