People looking to wipe certain criminal records clean in New Jersey will have to wait after Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a measure Friday, saying he wants to create a computer system that would automatically expunge conviction information.
Offenders who have clean records for 10 years would see their convictions removed, instead of having to actively apply to wipe them clean. The governor also wants to seal the records of people that committed low-level marijuana and hashish crimes.
The governor said in his veto that an automated system would prevent people convicted of non-violent crimes from "having to hire a lawyer or wade through a paperwork-intensive process" and bring relief to all that qualify, not just those who know to apply. Murphy said he wanted to follow the example of Pennsylvania, which recently enacted a similar system.
“I applaud the sponsors’ commitment to social justice, and their efforts to correct historic wrongs inflicted on our communities by a criminal justice system that has at times unfairly, and harshly punished individuals,” Murphy said. "I believe this bill can go further for the cause of justice, and I am hopeful that we can move forward together with a bill that provides a path to automatic expungement and allows for relief for those convicted for those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses.”