Expungement law reforms sought in Wisconsin

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One thing both Republican and Democrat legislators agree upon: Wisconsin’s expungement laws are outdated, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Citing a 2018 Wisconsin Policy Forum report, The Journal Sentinel takes note that Wisconsin is the only state in the nation where past and closed cases are not eligible for expungement, and one of just a handful that limits eligibility based on age.

The impact? More than 1.4 million people with criminal records in Wisconsin carry those charges on their criminal record forever, even after a sentence is served. This includes those convicted for misdemeanors or other low-level, non-violent felony such as theft or drug possession, the Journal Sentinel noted.

The result?

A Wisconsinites chances of finding stable employment or housing is limited.

The Solution?

There is bipartisan support to change Wisconsin’s laws.

Since 2019, Rep. David Steffen, (R-Green Bay) has introduced three bills The first two passed the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. However, both died in the Senate at the hands of an obscure Republican Party rule that requires 17 GOP senators to support a bill before it can advance for a floor vote, Steffen said in April. The latest bill, which Steffen co-authored with Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), would permit people convicted of a non-violent, low-level felony or misdemeanor to apply for expungement regardless of their age as long as they have no previous felony convictions, The Journal Sentinel reported.