Pubdate: Wed, 08 Oct 2014
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Mike DeBonis
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

MARIJUANA OFFENDERS COULD HAVE RECORDS SEALED AFTER D.C. COUNCIL VOTE

District residents who have been convicted of nonviolent marijuana
offenses could apply to have those criminal records sealed under a
bill granted initial approval by the D.C. Council on Tuesday.

The change is being considered amid a period of great upheaval for the
city's marijuana laws, which have gone from strict prohibition to the
cusp of legalization within a span of months. In March, lawmakers
voted to limit the penalties for minor cases of possession to a civil
fine no more serious than a parking ticket. Next month, city voters
will consider whether to legalize the possession of up to two ounces
of marijuana for personal use.

Council member David Grosso (I-At Large), who introduced the
record-sealing bill, said his legislation is a companion to the other
measures. He said it is a matter of fairness to give prior offenders
some ability to scrub their records now that city leaders have pursued
a liberalized marijuana policy.

"People who have had these issues in the past, it never leaves them,"
Grosso said. "They have to check the box [indicating a prior
conviction]. They can't get a job. They can't get public housing. They
can't get financial aid" for college.

Under the bill, residents could file a motion to seal in D.C. Superior
Court, which would be granted unless prosecutors could show that the
offense in question remains a crime. If granted, prosecutors and
courts would have to remove public records relating to that
individual's arrest, charge, trial or conviction.

The measure, which passed 12 to 0 and is subject to a second vote set
for later this month, is among the broadest efforts to allow marijuana
records to be sealed in the country, according to Grosso and data
compiled by the Drug Policy Alliance, a group advocating for legal
reforms.
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MAP posted-by: Richard