The following statement can be attributed to ACLU-KY Smart Justice field organizer Amanda Hall regarding House Bill 284 and House Bill 327:
“Thousands of Kentuckians are a step closer to a chance to move forward with their lives after two important justice reform measures cleared the House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 284 simply allows people on probation to start earning compliance credits immediately. Right now individuals don’t get credit off their sentences for participating in a substance use disorder program, obtaining their GED or degree, or for being employed. If the same individuals were on parole, they would get credit.
House Bill 327 automatically clears a kind of “scarlet letter” that many people do not know they are carrying. Currently, if you are acquitted of a crime in Kentucky, or if it’s dismissed, it stays on your record unless you go through the expungement process. This legislation will automatically expunge acquittals and dismissals with prejudice.
House Bill 284 and House Bill 327 are about reducing the stigma and the loss of opportunity for people with a criminal record. These bills are key tools in people being able to access good jobs, safe housing, and educational opportunities.”
