BLOG

A group known as the Urban League of Greater Madison is offering expungement clinics to help people get eligible criminal records sealed.

Expungement Clinics

Getting criminal records expunged can be a difficult and time-consuming process. There is a nationwide effort to help people accomplish this because having any type of record can make it hard for them to find jobs. To help Wisconsin residents, the Urban League of Greater Madison hosted an expungement clinic. Attendees were able to get assistance from an attorney and other volunteers who understand how to get convictions, arrests and other records sealed.

Members of the League are aware that state law includes some limitations regarding what records are eligible for expungement. They wanted to help people understand what they can and cannot get sealed as well as start the expunction process whenever possible. Their first event was attended by around 100 individuals, which was a success. From there, the collaborators planned to hold a new clinic each month.

Qualifications

To be eligible to get a record expunged, Wisconsin residents must have completed any mandated supervision five years prior to filing a request and have no open criminal cases. Clinic attendees who meet those requirements will get assistance filling out the necessary applications. Once that is complete, a representative handles the rest and the District Attorney and Court Clerk are informed.

After a request is submitted, a Pardon Board reviews it and considers:

• The nature and seriousness of the conviction.
• Whether the person has had any community involvement.
• The need for a pardon.

The process of getting a hearing takes about 18 months. When it’s time, the hearing is done via video to make it easier for the individual who is trying to get a record sealed.

Pre-Planned Expungements

Wisconsin law creates allowances for some records to be scheduled for expungement as soon as the person completes their sentence. This is true if the individual was under the age of 25 at the time the offense occurred and the court “determines the person will benefit and society will not be harmed by this disposition.”

Some types of offenses such as those for violent actions, will not be eligible for expunction.

When Expungement Is Approved

When a record is found to be eligible, the expungement process begins. Once it is complete, that record cannot be considered by employers or other organizations that are making decisions about consumers. The person who had the record may act as if it never occurred.

To help comply with expungement laws, employers may choose to work with a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). To earn accreditation, CRAs must demonstrate that they take reasonable steps to ensure the reports they produce only include accurate, current records.

Running Background Checks

If your organization needs background checks for employment purposes, please contact us. Backgrounds Online is proud to be an accredited CRA with more than 20 years of experience. Our friendly, highly trained staff can help you customize screening packages that are perfectly suited to your specific needs, relevant laws and industry best standards.

We are based in California and our team is available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.