02.08.10
More People May Become Eligible For Expungment Of Their Criminal Records in Georgia
The Georgia Legislature is considering HB 511, which would allow more people to be eligible to have their arrest records expunged.
As many may already know, current Georgia law only allows arrest records to be expunged in very limited circumstances. Frankly, unless an officer arrested someone by accident, it’s not likely they will be eliglible for expungement under current law.
The current version of HB 511 would allow for expungement when an accused is found not guilty, if their charges were dismissed by nolle prosequi or by being placed on the dead docket, or if they completed a pretrial diversion program. These would be a welcome change from the current, almost useless, law.
Furthermore, a specific provision of the current bill is that it specifies that an applicant for employment would not have to disclose the arrest or the fact of expungement to a prospective employer. Again, this would be a welcome change for many clients.
We will post updates as this bill makes its way thorugh the legislature. At this time, we won’t guess if it will make it to law.
k&b, llc
