Clean Slate Act (SF 1856) Summary

• Establishes automatic expungement of criminal records for eligible offenses without requiring individuals to file petitions, with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identifying and sealing qualifying records.

• Provides automatic expungement eligibility for dismissals, acquittals, successful completion of diversion programs, and convictions meeting waiting periods: two years for misdemeanors, four years for gross misdemeanors, and five years for felonies.

• Excludes certain violent crimes and offenses from automatic expungement, including domestic assault, DWI, sexual conduct crimes, harassment, and protection order violations.

• Requires prosecutors to notify crime victims at least 90 days before expungement and allow victims to object; permits courts to prohibit expungement upon clear and convincing evidence that public safety interests outweigh defendant disadvantages.

• Allows sealed records to remain accessible to criminal justice agencies for investigations and prosecutions, and permits background checks by Department of Human Services and educator licensing boards without court approval.