Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2001

The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2001 (H.R. 696) would allow individuals with a nonviolent criminal record to petition a federal court to have their conviction expunged, effectively clearing it from public view. To qualify, a person must have completed all parts of their sentence, remained drug- and alcohol-free for at least one year, earned a high school diploma or GED, and performed at least one year of community service.

If passed, this bill would help eligible citizens move past their criminal records to more easily secure employment, housing, and other opportunities. While the records would be removed from public access, the Department of Justice would maintain a private index for law enforcement use, and the records would be restored if the individual were convicted of a new crime.