Members of the General Assembly are debating a bill that could help thousands of people get jobs. It would allow people convicted of some crimes to have their records sealed.
Advocates say sealing old convictions would provide a new start for people who have been convicted of crimes and are trying to turn their lives around – especially if that crime serves as a barrier to employment.
"There are 1.6 million Virginians who have criminal convictions and criminal histories, which are prohibiting them from applying for jobs as menial as working as an ABC manager or working in a childcare center or being a drug counselor if they have a conviction for cocaine possession," says Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell. "And this law will open up job opportunities to thousands and thousands, if not over a million, Virginians."
His bill allowing people to seal some convictions – as long as they're not sex crimes – has bipartisan support, mainly because Democrats worked with Republicans to expand the list of crimes that are exempt from being sealed. Here's Republican Senator Mark Peake of Lynchburg, who voted for the bill.
"To quote the famous movie 'Argo,' what we did today with the sealing of documents was the best bad idea that we've got right now," he says.
Members of the General Assembly approved a similar bill a few years ago, but it has not yet been implemented. Now, lawmakers are making changes to make sure the process works for the courts – and for the people whose records will be sealed.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
