Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has signed a bill into law that will permit the expungement of certain Class D felonies from criminal records five years after a sentence has been completed. The new policy will apply to 61 different Class D felonies, equal to about 70 percent of Class D felonies committed. Individuals who wish to have their records cleared will need to have a clean record for five years after the completion of their sentence and pay a $500 fee.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Darryl Owens, has been pending in the Kentucky legislature for more than 10 years due to Republican opposition in the Senate. Despite this resistance, Governor Bevin, a Republican, vowed to support bill while campaigning last year and has now followed through on his commitment. Owens commented on the bill’s long-awaited passing, stating, “I’m happy for these folks who will now be able to get their life back on track, be productive, and contribute significantly to this community and to the commonwealth.”
Governor Bevin added to Owens’ comments, saying that “It is critical that there is an opportunity for redemption [and] second chances, because America is a land that was founded on these principles.”
With this version of the law, job applicants will now be able to truthfully say that they have never been convicted of a felony, providing much needed assistance for convicted individuals who have until now experienced considerable hardship when searching for employment.
For more information on this new legislation, click here.
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If you are being held back in life by the shadow of a past felony conviction, the Lexington criminal defense lawyers at Bleile & Dawson can help you pursue an expungement of your record. Backed by more than 20 years of dedicated legal experience, we have what it takes to maximize your chances of securing the results you need.
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