MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office is now accepting applications for expungement in juvenile crime cases.
“After a community member has been held accountable for their actions, it is in all of our best interests to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent them from contributing to society,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a news release Thursday. “Prosecutor-led removal is an important tool that removes barriers to jobs, housing and advancement in life, making our communities stronger and safer.”
Persons under the age of 18 may request erasure free of charge through the Help Seal My Record portal. If the law firm determines that the filing meets the criteria for expungement, the firm will file an agreement to expunge all documents with the court.
According to the agency, approximately 20 requests for the removal of juveniles are filed each month.
In the past, Moriarty has been called out for sentencing practices with young people. One such case involved a teenager, Foday Kamara. He was sentenced to 130 months in prison for murder. A cousin of Kamara believes Moriarty was not tough enough on the teenager and said the punishment was a “slap on the wrist”.
Examples of offenses eligible for expungement include property charges, fourth- and fifth-degree drug charges, forgery and financial transaction card fraud. More serious crimes, including sexual conduct, domestic violence and weapons cases, are not eligible for this program. Additionally, individuals must comply with a “waiting period” during which they have not committed a crime. Depending on the first violation, that waiting period can range from no time at all to three years.
This new development comes next Minnesota’s Clean Slate Act came into force. This law provides an exclusion for “lower-level non-violent crimes.” DFL representative Jamie Long says the deed”[offers] people a second chance and a chance at redemption.”
