Errington amendment would have helped expunge records for nonviolent offenders

An amendment authored by State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) to Senate Bill 343 would have allowed individuals to submit an expungement petition to expunge a conviction for misdemeanor possession of marijuana from their criminal record. The amendment was voted down today largely along party lines.

Errington issued the following statement after the vote on the amendment:

“Currently, 37 states in the nation have some form of legalized cannabis, whether recreational or strictly medicinal. Indiana is among the minority of states still sending people to prison for possessing marijuana. A criminal conviction not only means time spent in prison, the effects a conviction has on one's ability to find a job and stable housing after serving their time can impact the rest of someone's life. This amendment would have helped nonviolent offenders expunge their records of a misdemeanor charge of marijuana, and I'm disappointed that Indiana Republicans chose politics over helping Hoosiers get back on their feet.

“This session, there are no more bills related to marijuana legalization or decriminalization moving through the Statehouse. This was an opportunity to bring Indiana up to speed with the majority of the country – not for legalizing marijuana – but simply helping nonviolent offenders clear their records and make their lives a little easier. We often talk about the economic benefits of marijuana reform, but too often, the fact that reform is a civil rights issue is left out of the conversation. African Americans and Hoosiers of color, as well as those living in low-income communities, are more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, and those arrests can impact the rest of their lives. This amendment would have helped to alleviate some of the economic disparities among Hoosiers, and it's a shame we couldn’t take that small step.”