New Jersey Assembly Passes Bill To Protect Privacy Of Expunged Cannabis Records
The New Jersey General Assembly unanimously passed Bill A3881 in late September, aiming to prohibit the dissemination of certain criminal history information for individuals with expunged records, including marijuana offenses.
New Bill Aims To Prevent Discrimination
The bill addresses long-standing harms caused by the War on Drugs, particularly marijuana-related offenses. Sponsored by Assembly members Annette Quijano (D) and Ellen J. Park (D), the legislation seeks to prevent discrimination and improve access to opportunities by safeguarding erased histories during background checks.
If enacted, the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) would be required to check for unprocessed expungement orders before sharing any criminal history information. The SBI would also need to update its records to reflect any eligible expungements, ensuring outdated information does not hinder individuals seeking employment, housing …