Bipartisan Expungement Legislation Unites NAACP, American Conservative Union, Others
Named After Late NY District Attorney and Justice Icon Kenneth P. Thompson, Legislation Would Increase Employment Pool, Reduce Crime; Advocates Urge Swift Passage
Washington, DC (July 28, 2023) – Representatives Glenn Ivey (D-MD) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to introduce the Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act, a bipartisan bill that would remove the age requirement for those seeking an expungement order for a first-time federal drug possession offense. They were joined by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including Representatives Laurel Lee (R-FL), Hakeem Jeffries, (D-NY), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Barry Moore (R-AL) in the House.
Named in honor of the late New York district attorney Ken Thompson, who passed in 2016 after a legendary and transformational career, the Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act would eliminate an age cap on allowable expungements for those convicted of first-time federal drug possession charges. Currently, if a person is over the age of 21 at the time of the offense, they are not eligible for an expungement order even after they’ve completed their sentence, including any terms of parole or probation, and gotten their life back on track. Because criminal records reduce access to housing, jobs and educational opportunities, this often results in an unproductive life sentence of poverty, joblessness, and underachievement.
A broad, bipartisan coalition expressed support for the bill in letters to members in both chambers of Congress, including Justice Action Network, Faith & Freedom Coalition, The American Conservative Union, NAACP, the National District Attorneys Association, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. A full list of organizations and text of the letters can be found here and here.
“A non-violent drug-related offense should not be a permanent barrier to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” said Inimai Chettiar, Deputy Director of Justice Action Network. “By allowing people who’ve paid their debt to society to expunge their records and begin their lives anew, the Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act would increase public safety and reduce recidivism rates. We commend the bipartisan leadership backing this bill and look forward to both chambers promptly passing the bill.”
The introduction of the Kenneth P. Thompson Begin Again Act also comes after expungement-related legislation known as Clean Slate Laws have gained momentum in states across the country, including in Pennsylvania where lawmakers have been so pleased with the results of their original effort they have undertaken to expand their expungement eligibility to all low-level drug-related misdemeanors. Twelve states in total have passed automated expungement laws since 2018, including Michigan, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Utah.
Justice Action Network is the nation’s largest bipartisan criminal justice reform organization working to advance evidence-based policies at both the state and federal levels.