As part of New Jersey’s legal cannabis program, in effect since July 1, the state Judiciary has already dealt with some 88,000 cannabis cases, it announced Monday evening.
These are the first wave of an estimated 360,000 identified cases that will qualify for expungement in the Garden State.
After vacating convictions or dismissing cases, reported NJ.com, the judiciary will automatically expunge the cases in the coming months. In February, Gov. Phil Murphy legalized cannabis by signing a package of several bills.
Earlier this month, a state Supreme Court order laid out the process that will ultimately eliminate non-violent, low-level cannabis charges from people’s records. To facilitate the expungement process, which can burdensome for all involved, the Judiciary created an electronic system that will allow people with past arrest records to obtain certificates showing their crimes have been expunged.
Eventually, the entire system will be fully automated.
Old, New And Pending Cases Included
Fortunately, the order applies not just to old records, but also to pending cases, including those awaiting sentencing and those serving sentences, either in prison, probation or parole.
People with criminal records normally struggle to get jobs, housing and student loans due to years-old charges. Social justice advocates have called for and praised reform efforts that make expungements easier to access.
Cannabis Companies Moving In
Although it could be months…
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As part of New Jersey’s legal cannabis program, in effect since July 1, the state Judiciary has already dealt with some 88,000 cannabis cases, it announced Monday evening.
These are the first wave of an estimated 360,000 identified cases that will qualify for expungement in the Garden State.
After vacating convictions or dismissing cases, reported NJ.com, the judiciary will automatically expunge the cases in the coming months. In February, Gov. Phil Murphy legalized cannabis by signing a package of several bills.
Earlier this month, a state Supreme Court order laid out the process that will ultimately eliminate non-violent, low-level cannabis charges from people’s records. To facilitate the expungement process, which can burdensome for all involved, the Judiciary created an electronic system that will allow people with past arrest records to obtain certificates showing their crimes have been expunged.
Eventually, the entire system will be fully automated.
Old, New And Pending Cases Included
Fortunately, the order applies not just to old records, but also to pending cases, including those awaiting sentencing and those serving sentences, either in prison, probation or parole.
People with criminal records normally struggle to get jobs, housing and student loans due to years-old charges. Social justice advocates have called for and praised reform efforts that make expungements easier to access.
Cannabis Companies Moving In
Although it could be months…
