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New Laws Going Into Effect Oct. 1 In Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) --New laws are in effect in Maryland as of Thursday.

Speed limits may be raised on some state highways from 65 mph to 70 mph and new correction officers are required to pass a lie detector test.

Another law is designed to help ex-offenders get jobs.

Political reporter Pat Warren explains how that works.

From now on, people with nonviolent misdemeanors convictions can have them wiped off the public record.

It's a record-breaking day.

"Today, I came here to get my record expunged, get some thing I needed to get cleaned off," said one man.

Nonviolent misdemeanor convictions records wipes clean or shielded from public view.

"The criminal record is a significant barrier to employment, said Caryn Aslan, of the Job Opportunities Task Force. "A criminal record is a significant barrier to housing."

Three new laws are in effect related to convictions.

The Maryland Second Chance act allows the court to shield certain convictions from public view.

Another law allows individuals to expunge non-convictions, cases where they were arrested and unable to get that arrest expunged.

And the third expunges convictions for crimes that are no longer a crime.

"I'm going to get all the things cleared up and I'm a new man today, Roland Rich said.

Rich was able to expunge ten charges.

"A lot of things were non-processed, it was almost a waste of time going in court, but that's the way the system was back then," he said.

"Something where you were not found guilty for should not be a barrier to you being able to be the productive citizen we expect you to be," Aslan added.

It's a welcome improvement.

"Being able 20 years ago, 18 years ago, to get things expunged today so I have a new, fresh start," Rich said.

There are a number of providers able to help get tose records expunged including leagl aid and records are still available to law enforcement.

Here are a list of laws going into effect today.

 

 

 

 

 

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