Automatically seal the record of a non-violent drug conviction five years after sentence completion
Currently, criminal records remain publicly accessible unless a person takes affirmative steps to have them sealed, which can be costly and difficult. A proposal would automatically seal the records of people convicted of non-violent drug offenses five years after they complete their sentence or probation.
Arguments For & Against
Pro Argument
People should not carry around the burden of their past misdeeds forever. This is especially true for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. As long as that record is open, it will make employment and housing harder to get. People should not be effectively punished over and over again for the rest of their life. After five years, people deserve a fresh start.
Con Argument
Hiring or renting to a person with a history of drug use is risky. Just because they have not been caught using drugs for five years does not mean they are not still using. Employers and landlords have the right to make informed decisions about who they hire and house.
Source document: Criminal_Records_Quaire_0221.pdf
| Type | Organization | Date | Nat | Rep | Dem | Gap | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PPC Survey (2026) | Program for Public Consultation | February 2026 | 77% | 73% | 83% | 10% | favor |
| Deliberative Survey | Program for Public Consultation | February 2021 | 75% | 68% | 84% | 16% | favor |
Program for Public Consultation — February 2026
Proposals have been put forward to reduce the amount of time it takes to get a record of an arrest or crime sealed so that it is no longer available to the public, including employers and landlords. For a person convicted of a non-violent drug offense, automatically sealing the record of that crime five years after the person has finished their sentence or probation.
Program for Public Consultation — February 2021
For a person convicted of a non-violent drug offense, five years after they finish their sentence or probation, information about the offense would be automatically sealed. Legally, they would not need to disclose their arrest or conviction to an employer or landlord.
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