United States: Second National Expungement Week proposes erasing old drug offenses

A coalition of some 50 organizations is taking part in this week's National Expungement Week (N.E.W.) and offers events in cities across the United States to help the 77 million Americans affected by criminal convictions to clear their criminal records.

People attending the events receive legal assistance to clear, close or reduce criminal convictions. N.E.W.events will take place from September 21 to 28 in some 30 cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Past prohibitions still penalize ex-convicts

The cannabis is legal in 11 US states, representing 25% of the country's population, many people have been convicted of acts that are no longer offenses, such as possession or consumption of cannabis. The event is not limited to cannabis, but to all drug-related offences. Convictions recorded in criminal records can have lifelong consequences for individuals.

«A criminal record can restrict access to employment, housing, education, voting rights and social services,» explains Adam Vine of Equity First Alliance. «These collateral consequences prevent people from fully reintegrating into their communities after incarceration, which is why the erasure [of their criminal records] is both necessary and urgent.»

«In addition to legal services, these events offer job fairs, resume workshops, voter registration, immigration counseling and additional resources for veterans and families with incarcerated loved ones,» Vine said. «Every event is different.»

The events host free «clinics» where volunteers and lawyers explain how people convicted of non-violent drug offenses can close or clear their records.

For those who can't get their records expunged, the N.E.W events may help them find employment in the cannabis industry, where most employers see a prior conviction as more of a certificate of qualification than a blemish. The events will also inform convicts on how to regain their right to vote, as most states prohibit «felons» from voting.

«Just because legalization has taken place in Colorado doesn't mean that prohibition no longer has an impact on people,» said Kelsey Barton, headhunter at agency Vangst specializing in cannabis, à Westword. «Our aim is to help people who have been negatively impacted by past prohibition, and who should have the same opportunities as anyone else.»

The first edition of the National Expungement Week took place in some fifteen cities. All events for the 2019 edition can be viewed here on the event website.

You can also listen to Seth Rogen talk about it.