Accelerate April 2021 Magazine

Currently, expungement in Wisconsin is only eligible to those who have committed a non-violent crime no greater than a Class H felony and have no previous felonies. Collectively, we believe those parameters make sense and should stay in place. However, other aspects of Wisconsin’s current expungement law need reform. For example, Wisconsin is the only state in the nation that requires judges to determine expungement eligibility when somebody is sentenced, instead of when they are released. This is the only time that expungement is possible in Wisconsin. In other words, judges are asked to decide whether expungement is appropriate very soon after the crime has been committed, rather than a year or more later, when the defendant’s rehabilitation is more readily apparent. Wisconsin is also one of a few states that limits expungement eligibility to offenses that occur before age 25. Senators Alberta Darling and Kelda Roys and Representatives David Steffen and Evan Goyke have introduced bipartisan legislation that provides pathways to employment for thousands of Wisconsinites through criminal justice reform. This legislation makes common- sense revisions to the court process for Wisconsin’s outdated expungement law and brings it in line with most of the country. Support of this bipartisan bill is directly connected to supporting the men and women of our community who are searching for meaningful employment, which benefits all of us. Expungement offers individuals the opportunity to find purpose through employment, so we can all work together to create a prosperous community for ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbors. • BUSINESS | HOME | WEALTH N14 W23900 Stone Ridge Dr., Waukesha MyKnowledgeBroker.com