Louisiana has notoriously high fees and an overall tedious process for expungement, but Louisiana's new HB 707 is hoping to automate the system. Automation would help the thousands of eligible individuals that might not have otherwise taken advantage of this benefit. Louisiana legislators recently forwarded HB 707 to the full House for consideration.
Louisiana has notoriously high fees and an overall tedious process for expungement, but Louisiana's new HB 707 hopes to automate the system. Automation would help the thousands of eligible individuals that might not have otherwise taken advantage of this benefit. Louisiana legislators recently forwarded HB 707 to the full House for consideration. The bill would go into effect in 2024 and include all eligible criminal records since 1999. However, the automation would not have municipal court records, where most traffic offenses and misdemeanors are handled.
Louisiana citizens would benefit vastly from automated expunction as they must pay a minimum $550 fee per incident in addition to the cost of a lawyer (recommended due to the fee's non-refundable nature). This fee is the most expensive in the country by a margin of $300. Additionally, automation would shift the responsibility of initiation and payment from the eligible individual to the state. Currently, only about 20% of eligible individuals with criminal records take advantage of the expunction process due to its costly nature.
Proponents of change support this bill because expunctions help rehabilitate individuals with criminal records and support their transition back into the workforce. It can also help them obtain safe housing, educational opportunities, and professional licenses. In addition, a clean record is often pertinent to the hiring process, especially at higher levels, as employers are still widely allowed to screen applicants for criminal histories before acknowledging their qualifications. To end the cycle of crime, poverty, and lack of education, the state must support those with criminal records back into society.
If you feel held back by your criminal record and don't know where to start, look no further than Easy Expunctions. We're committed to providing eligible individuals with simple, affordable, and quick record-clearing services. Visit EasyExpunctions.com or call (866) 775-9983 to learn more!