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Senate rejects substitute SB 72, sparking debate over automatic expungements after acquittal
Summary
Senators voted down Substitute Senate Bill 72, which would have allowed automatic expungement one year after an acquittal; opponents said automatic removal without review could impede future prosecutions, while law enforcement said amendments made the measure acceptable.
Substitute Senate Bill 72, a measure proposed by Senator Wilfred Rex Black to expunge criminal arrest records following trial acquittals, was debated at length on Feb. 11 and did not pass the Senate.
Senator Black introduced the substitute bill, which included an amendment that would automatically clear records one year after an acquittal. Opponents warned the change removes judicial review that can be important when evidence accumulates over time. Senator Hittier argued, “My concern with Senator Black's amendment is that if a person is…
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