I support, and will follow the progress of, Senate File 148.
Senate File 148, which is pending before the Iowa State Legislature, would
expunge criminal charges that were dismissed or where the defendant was
acquitted at trial. The bill only applies to dismissals or acquittals of
criminal charges for alleged offenses committed on or after July 1, 2013.
This pending legislation is much needed. At present, while
many deferred judgments and convictions for PAULA and Public Intoxication can be expunged, dismissals and acquittals cannot be
expunged. This leaves the unfair
scenario where an innocent defendant, who was acquitted at trial or had their
charge(s) dismissed, must be burdened by the public’s knowledge of, and access
to, their court file. On the other hand, a defendant who is guilty and
convicted of public intoxication or PAULA, or who is guilty of another offense
and receives a deferred judgment, can get their case expunged and avoid some of
the legal baggage that an innocent defendant whose case was dismissed or who
was acquitted must carry.
Hopefully this bill will rectify this unjust scenario. I
encourage readers of this blog to contact their state legislator and voice
their support for Senate File 148.
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