Author Archives: Jenna Thorne

Criminal convictions in Nevada that may not have previously affected one’s ability to find a job or secure housing can now appear on a background check requested by a potential employer or landlord, even if the case occurred decades in the past. SB 409 went into effect immediately on June 9, 2015 when it was signed into law. Continue reading →

In an unprecedented move, a New York judge has granted the expungement of a woman’s federal conviction. The judge concluded that this case involved “extraordinary circumstances” that ultimately warranted expungement. Continue reading →

Senate Bill 1902 expands eligibility for an order of nondisclosure to include many one-time offenders with a misdemeanor conviction. The bill improves the state’s current expungement laws, but unfortunately for many deserving Texans with a single past conviction, the changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2015. Continue reading →

A Wall Street Journal article entitled, “Fight Grows to Stop Expunged Criminal Records Living On in Background Checks,” features a quote by RecordGone.com Founding Attorney Mathew Higbee. The article highlights the often-ignored issue of background check companies and websites that continue to report criminal case information following a court-ordered expungement or record sealing. Continue reading →

A new Illinois law that went into effect January 1, 2015 and places restrictions on when a background check may be conducted, which is informally referred to as banning the box. Under the new law, employers will only be allowed to perform such a check if an applicant has been selected for an interview or if a job offer has been extended. Continue reading →