Action needed to support bills to expand expungement for convictions in Georgia from Georgia Justice Project

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ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT Bills to Expand Expungement for Convictions in Georgia

We need to take action now for expungement reform! Four bills to expand record restriction and sealing (“expungement”) have been introduced in the Georgia General Assembly.

House Bill 528 allows record restriction (“expungement”) for certain misdemeanor and felony convictions. Sponsor: Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R – Canton). Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil.

House Bill 268 allows record restriction (“expungement”) for certain misdemeanor and felony convictions. Sponsor: Rep. Billy Mitchell (D – Stone Mountain). Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil.

House Bill 549 expands record restriction (“expungement”) eligibility and allows restriction for certain misdemeanor and felony convictions. Sponsor: Rep. Sandra Scott (D – Rex). Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil.

House Bill 309 requires automatic record restriction (“expungement”) for certain misdemeanors and felonies when the sentence is complete. Sponsor: Rep. Gregg Kennard (D – Lawrenceville). Committee: Judiciary.

Click here to see Georgia Justice Project’s Second Chances flyer.


STEP 1: E-mail the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee to support HB 528, HB 268, and HB 549.

Copy and paste the following e-mails in the To field:
[e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]

Sample message to include in the body of your email:

Dear Members of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee:

My name is NAME and I live in Georgia. I urge you to support three bills which help people convicted of certain offenses move on by expunging their records: HB 528, HB 268, and HB 549. Unlike in most states, almost all convictions stay on your record for life in Georgia, creating permanent barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities. These bills will allow individuals to restrict public access to certain past convictions while maintaining law enforcement access and improving public safety. The Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform recommended the expansion of restriction and sealing to certain convictions in 2018. Please support these important pieces of legislation.

Sincerely,
Name
Address


STEP 2: E-mail the House Judiciary Committee to support HB 309.

Copy and paste the following e-mails in the To field:
[e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]

Sample message to include in the body of your email:

Dear Members of the House Judiciary Committee:

My name is NAME and I live in Georgia. I urge you to support a bill which helps people convicted of certain offenses move on by expunging their records: HB 309. Unlike in most states, almost all convictions stay on your record for life in Georgia, creating permanent barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities. These bills will allow individuals to restrict public access to certain past convictions while maintaining law enforcement access and improving public safety. The Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform recommended the expansion of restriction and sealing to certain convictions in 2018. Please support this important of legislation.

Sincerely,
Name
Address


STEP 3: Send Second Chances postcards to committee members.

Georgia Justice Project’s Second Chances Advocacy Toolkit includes Second Chance postcards that make the case for expungement reform. Contact Helen Mun at [e-mail] if you’d like to mail postcards to legislators.


STEP 4: Share this action alert. Every voice counts in the fight for second chances and expungement reform!

Georgia Justice Project
438 Edgewood Ave
Atlanta, GA 30312