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Delaware Considers Expunging Juvenile Criminal Records

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - The Delaware state House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that would make it easier for those with juvenile criminal convictions to have their records expunged.

The bill to be voted on Tuesday modifies discretionary expungement provisions to allow more people, including those with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, to be eligible to have their records cleared.

The person could not have adult convictions or pending criminal charges.

The bill specifically states that a felony juvenile conviction that is expunged would no longer be a basis to prohibit the person from owning a gun.

Supporters of the bill say the dissemination of juvenile criminal histories can be a barrier to getting a job, education, housing and credit.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.