Act 5 of 2016 relieves the burden of disclosing old, low-level offenses for thousands of Pennsylvanians who may have made some mistakes in the past but who have maintained crime-free lifestyles for a significant period of time. While I am encouraged by this progress, when the new Legislative Session begins next year I will continue to work with my colleagues to see the enactment of legislation that will provide full criminal record expungement. This will directly benefit thousands of Pennsylvanians suffering from past convictions that prohibit them from obtaining gainful employment and housing. It will allow them to move past prior offenses and become productive citizens.
That said, expungement is not the only reform to our criminal justice system I have proposed. This year I introduced legislation, with the support of both the majority and minority Transportation Chairmen, providing for an amnesty program for driver’s with suspended licenses due to failure to pay fines and penalties. Also, language from legislation I introduced regarding Occupational Limited Licenses (OLLs), was agreed to as an amendment, allowing those with low-level drug possession charges to be able to drive to school or work during their suspension. Although OLL legislation did not get to the finish line this Session, I am hopeful we will pass this into law in the new Session.
There are too many cases, in whatever form it may take, in which someone makes a mistake when they’re young and it wreaks havoc on their life for years to come. I am pleased we were finally able to put the order for limited access into law, but I assure you our efforts toward full expungement and many of the other criminal justice reforms we continue to fight for, are far from over.
(Jake Wheatley represents the 19th Legislative District in Allegheny County)
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