Pacific Council: Clean Slate Act (Passed)

[Cranberry]

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Go on. What do you think?

I am not in favour of this bill, as when you commit a crime, it won't turn good when you become 18. On the other hand though, it would be kind of a "fresh start" for them; that would prove bad though should they continue committing felonies.

[DemPGH]

Yeah, I don't particularly like clause 1 - I could see removing certain kinds of offenses when one turns 18, but I'd also be afraid that it might enable poor choices and bad behavior. I think the criminal justice system offers protections for people under 18, but I'd be curious to hear a defense of the bill.

[Simfan34]

Yeah, this is another bill trying to solve a non-existent problem.

[Cranberry]

I feel the same as you.
You really don't need such things.

[Fed. Pac. Chairman Devin]

I don't see a reason for clause one. If I struck that would the bill be acceptable?

[Cranberry]

Well, clause 1 and 2 just say the same, really; and clause 3 is related to them, so I would struck all but clause 4.

But is there even a need, for just clause 4?

[DemPGH]

Well, let's pare it back. I also understand that someone may just happen to do something stupid, or they may be completely ignorant of the fact that they did something wrong, and then they pay for it forever, possibly. That's not right.

You know what comes to mind? That story a year or so ago in Florida where the two girls were dating - one was a senior and the other was a freshman or something, and the senior girl got in ALL kinds of ridiculous trouble because the younger one was too young by like ten days or something really absurd.   

[Cranberry]

You're right of course, no one should pay his whole life for some dumb thing they did when they were 17 and completely sloshed. On the other hand, what if they did it with intend, what if it wasn't just such a dumb thing? It's hard to draw a line here.

Maybe we could change it, that if you just had to pay a fine, your criminal record is cleared; but if you were sentenced to an arrest, with or without probation, it isn't?

[DemPGH]

Let me offer an amendment to this a little later.

[Cranberry]

Alright, ok.

[DemPGH]

Yeah, the issue is that this would be a case-by-case kind of thing. So I think this aims at that.

There are kids who just do dumb things, and they should be forgiven. There are criminals, though, who start young, and that's a different situation. So check this:

Clean Slate Act

1. Upon turning 18, all citizen's criminal records shall be abolished.
2. All citizens shall have any offenses on their criminal record before they turned 18 removed.
3. The exception shall be for anyone who has a felony on their record.
1. Minors who committed offenses which did not result in bodily harm or prison time will be eligible to have those offenses removed from their records upon reaching eighteen years of age. A written request must be made to expunge these offenses. This is contingent upon there being no repeat offenses.
2. Those who committed a felony while they were a minor shall be allowed to go through the process currently designated for removing a misdemeanor from their record to remove a felony from their record. eligible to apply to have the felony expunged by way of the same process pertaining to misdemeanors. This is contingent upon there being no repeat or multiple felonies.

[Cranberry]

That's a good amendment, I'd be in favour of that.

[Cranberry]

Any thoughts on the amendment?

Anyway, this is a vote on the amendment.
Councillors, you have 24 hours to vote Aye / Nay / Abstain.

[Cranberry]

Aye

[Simfan34]

Aye

[Fed. Pac. Chairman Devin]

Aye

[Cranberry]

The amendment passed with 3 votes in favour.

If everyone is ok with it, I would open the final vote.

[Fed. Pac. Chairman Devin]

Go for it!

[Cranberry]

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Sponsor: PJ
Amendment: DemPGH

Councillors, you have 48 hours to vote Aye / Nay / Abstain

[Cranberry]

Aye

[Fed. Pac. Chairman Devin]

Aye

[Cranberry]

The bill has passed with 2 votes in favour / 1 abstained.

[DemPGH]

X DemPGH, Pac. Gov.