HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A senate bill aimed at expunging low level crimes could help thousands of people in Madison County. SB117, or the "REDEEMER Act" was passed and signed off by Governor Kay Ivey during 'Second Chance Month' proclaimed by President Joe Biden.
This bill expands the expungement law, which would clear non-violent misdemeanor convictions. This includes traffic law violations to a marijuana charge. This law can also waive filing fees, which it didn't before.
"The REDEEMER Act waives that. It allows it to follow through the affidavit hardship. So for most people who are sitting near the poverty level, we're going to be able to get them an expungement for free," says Legal Services Alabama Managing Attorney, Holly Ray.
Ray says this helps people have a second chance at life. "There's so many people that have misdemeanors on their record that stopped them from being able to get a good job, or stopped them from being able to progress in their employment," says Ray.
However, Ray says this bill isn't "perfect." There's still some "quirks" to address.
"You can probably go back and find a local story of a guy who had an iron clad alibi but was accused of murder. Well, that's a violent crime so he still can't expunge. The system doesn't fix that," she says.
The law goes into effect in July, so people can't file yet. Ray says there are steps people can take before it does go into effect. A fingerprint card is required through ALEA, and because of COVID-19 restrictions it's been tough to get a fingerprint card in person.
Here's what Ray suggests:
"I've told people to go ahead and start getting that ALEA fingerprint card. It's on ALEA's website, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. They're whole expungement toolkit is on their website, too," she says.
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