Hacking Record Expungement: Code For America and Cannabis

Throughout the 2020 election season, the debate over cannabis reform has shed light on the challenges facing people convicted of low-level cannabis crimes to clear their records as laws change. As you'll hear in this episode, these out of date and increasingly invalid local convictions can hinder individuals from securing employment, housing and even bar them from volunteering in  their children's schools. 

Governors in states including, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington have begun to issue pardons. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just signed new legislation to allow people with certain misdemeanor marijuana convictions to apply for expungement.  In California, high tech is helping to quicken the pace of record clearing thanks to a band of civic-minded software engineers from the non-profit Code for America.  This episode, Heather chats with Alia Toran-Burrell,  senior manager of Code for America's Clear My Record program and meets an individual who recently learned his conviction has been erased and is now able to move on with his life.