Justice Notes: Expungement
A White-Collar Journal forum for criminal justice, lived experience, and the personal search for redemption
Expungement
"No Period at the End of the Sentence"
For many returning citizens—those released from prison and trying to reintegrate into society—the sentence never truly ends. While their prison term may be over, the stigma of a felony conviction lingers indefinitely, shadowing every effort to build a stable life. The mantra echoed in dormitories and cell blocks across the country is as poignant as it is true: "Every sentence should end with a period."
But in the American justice system, that period is often missing.
Expungement, the process by which a criminal conviction is erased from a person’s record, remains elusive or altogether unavailable for most individuals with felony convictions. For returning citizens, this legal mark follows them into every job interview, housing application, bank transaction, and background check. In many states, a felony record is permanent, regardless of rehabilitation, time served, or the severity of the crime.
Consider this: even if someone completes their sentence, pays restitution, stays out of trouble, and contributes to their community in every measurable way, they are still legally defined first and foremost by that conviction. A mistake made years or even decades ago can block them from opportunities available to every other citizen. This is not justice. It’s a life sentence by another name.
One of the most immediate and debilitating effects of a criminal record is on employment. Employers often ask about felony convictions on job applications, and while some jurisdictions have “banned the box,” the stigma remains. A simple Google search or background check can sabotage a candidate before they ever step into the interview room. For those trying to re-enter the workforce, it becomes not just a challenge, but a humiliation.
Even basic financial services become a hurdle. Many returning citizens struggle to open a bank account. Financial institutions often impose restrictions on individuals with criminal records, especially if the conviction involved fraud, theft, or financial misconduct, even if the conviction occurred many years ago and restitution has been paid in full. Without access to banking, the path to rebuilding financial independence narrows even further.
And yet, we talk constantly about rehabilitation. We talk about second chances. We discuss reducing recidivism rates and enhancing community safety. However, we rarely discuss the structural barriers that make rehabilitation nearly impossible, and one of the most immovable is the lifelong impact of a conviction.
There is, however, a growing movement to change this. Legal advocacy groups, reform coalitions, and formerly incarcerated individuals themselves are urging Congress and state legislatures to revise the current laws around expungement. The proposals are not about erasing responsibility or rewriting history. They’re about creating a path to redemption for people who have already served their time.
Several states have taken small but significant steps in this direction. Some allow automatic expungement for certain non-violent offenses after a specified number of years, provided there are no additional infractions. Others have passed “clean slate” laws that clear eligible records, giving individuals a fresh start. But for the vast majority of felons—especially those convicted of white-collar crimes or serious offenses—there is no such pathway. Their records are sealed in perpetuity, and with them, their chances at meaningful reintegration.
We must challenge this. We must stop treating incarceration as the end of justice and start seeing reentry as the true test of our values. If someone has paid their debt to society, they should not have to keep paying for the rest of their life. If we believe in second chances, we must make them possible.
Expungement is not a loophole. It is not an indulgence. It is a recognition that human beings are capable of change, that punishment should not be infinite, and that the law should allow for the restoration of dignity. Until we put a period at the end of every sentence, we are not a system of justice; we are a system of perpetual punishment.
If this piece resonated with you, consider sharing it or leaving a comment. To support this work and help spread awareness about justice reform for white-collar defendants, subscribe to White-Collar Journal and stay connected. John DiMenna is a member of the White Collar Support Group.