Bipartisan legislation will keep kids out of criminal justice system for youthful mistakes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earlier today Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House bills 195 and 197 into law. It will expunge the nonjudicial arrest records of children who have successfully completed diversion programs for criminal offenses and provide for confidentiality of related arrest records exemptions. 

This legislation will allow children to enter adulthood without the stain of a criminal record. It passed unanimously in the House and Senate. 

The following is a statement from Delvin Davis, regional policy analyst for criminal justice reform at the SPLC Action Fund. 

“It serves no purpose to have children go into adulthood with a criminal record.  Numerous studies have shown that a child’s brain is still developing throughout their mid-20’s. They can learn and grow and become rehabilitated. Under this legislation children can get their records expunged if prosecutors choose to place them in a diversion program instead of the criminal justice system. Records are expunged upon successful completion of the program. This is common sense legislation that we’re grateful the House and Senate have unanimously passed, and that Governor DeSantis has signed.”