A law recently passed unanimously in the State Senate and State House which would expunge the criminal record of individuals found ‘not guilty’ in court. State Representative Clel Baudler likes the intent of the bill, but says it won’t entirely help those living in small, close-knit communities. “Problem is in small communities, people are going to remember it. If a person applies for a job, even if his record is completely clean, he still might have to answer to the person he’s applying to. They might say, ‘People say this about you.’ It will be part of your reputation, maybe not official, but it will be part of your reputation for a long time to come.”

The bill imposes a 180 day waiting period before the defendant’s record can be expunged.