A Milwaukee County supervisor is calling for an overhaul of the state law that prevents Wisconsinites from having minor offenses removed from their criminal record.
Current law allows for the expungement of misdemeanors and some felonies that were committed before the age of 25, but only if a judge agrees to it at the time of the original conviction.
Supervisor Khalif Rainey said the result is that people who make minor mistakes when they’re young are denied the chance to get a job and contribute to their community.
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“I don’t think that this is something that should be eligible for everyone,” said Rainey. “For those that have clearly demonstrated through volunteer service, through commitment to community endeavors, I think it’s a great opportunity to put some people back to work without any barriers.”
Democrats, backed by the State Bar of Wisconsin, tried and failed last year to pass legislation that would allow the change. The bill will likely be reintroduced before the end of the year.
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