Frankfort, Ky. (Mar. 18, 2020)—Today, the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition released the following statement after the Kentucky Senate passed bills relating to expungement as well as probation compliance credits. HB327 and HB284 now head to concurrence before they can be sent to the Governor’s desk.
“The Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition commends the General Assembly for passing HB327 and HB284,” said Kate Shanks, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Kentucky Chamber on behalf of the Kentucky Smart on Crime Coalition.
Rep. Kevin Bratcher’s HB327 improves our Commonwealth’s expungement statutes by removing barriers to work. Since 2016, our broad-based coalition has been working with the General Assembly on the expungement issue, and we are pleased to see the Commonwealth continue to make significant progress. Automatic expungement of acquittals and dismissals is another step in the right direction.
Rep. Derek Lewis’s probation compliance credit bill, HB284, is an additional commonsense solution. This legislation will finally align incentives for probation to match those of parole. This will encourage treatment of substance use disorders and support work opportunities in order to reduce recidivism.
HB327 and HB284 will make our Commonwealth safer and our workforce stronger.”
About Kentucky Smart on Crime:
Kentucky Smart on Crime, a broad-based coalition working for common-sense justice reforms that enhance public safety, strengthen communities, and promote cost effective sentencing alternatives. Partner organizations include American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, Kentucky Council of Churches, Catholic Conference of Kentucky, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. and Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Kentucky Youth Advocates. For more information, visit: kysmartoncrime.com or @kysmartoncrime on Twitter.