*The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by speakers, panelists, guests, and other participants are solely their own and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Youthprise.
When a young person comes of age, their juvenile justice records do not simply disappear. Young people often pay the price for their past infractions well into adulthood. In many cases, a criminal record results in collateral consequences. Past offenses can render individuals ineligible for certain jobs, pose obstacles when they apply for higher education, deter landlords and public authorities from approving their housing, impact their insurance and loan rates, and the list goes on. Many states, including Minnesota, have processes through which people can apply to have their criminal records sealed from the public. In Minnesota, the process is of petitioning the courts to seal a record is called expungement. MN's current expungement process is imperfect and cumbersome.
Because data show that youth who are black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are arrested and enter the justice system more frequently than their white peers for the same actions, the issue of expungement is closely tied to equitable treatment. For instance, employers are nearly 50 percent more likely to withhold opportunities based on criminal records, making non-white individuals disproportionately excluded from the workforce. Yet findings show that clearing an individual’s record can increase the probability of finding a job by 6.5 percent and increase wages by 22 percent in the first year following expungement.
While the current handling of criminal records can disrupt a successful transition into adulthood after youth incarceration, there are dedicated advocates - inside the justice system and in the community - who are championing change. In the latest segment of our Disrupting with Purpose learning series, we have invited experts to help us take a closer look at expungement and the necessity of second chances. This event will provide an overview of expungement, including current laws and statistics; feature interviews of young people who have been impacted by expungement; and offer an intergenerational discussion on effective solutions.