After months of waiting, Minnesota’s new criminal expungement law takes effect January 1, 2015. This new law will give Minnesota judges statutory authority to seal criminal records covering a broader range of circumstances than were previously available. This is significant considering that according to the Council on Crime and Justice, one in four Minnesotans has a criminal record. MPR posted an article which helps illustrate how a well-meaning person might wind up with a criminal record and why he or she might benefit from expungement as a tool to get back on track.
For Ramsey County residents with prior criminal convictions or arrests, there has never been a better time to attend a local expungement workshop. In addition to the Court-sponsored workshops that take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month workshops in the Law Library, workshops are also available on the Third Friday of each month at the Rondo Outreach Library. Starting in February, workshops will also be available the first Friday of each month at the Arlington Hills Library and Community Center. See this poster for handy reference to all the workshops.
Take a look at the law and see how it has been expanded. This article from the Bench and Bar of Minnesota helps explain the legal foundations of the new expungement law, as does this practice tip sheet from Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN).
