Salt Lake Police erases expungement backlog of 74,000 criminal records

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Nearly 74,000 people with a criminal record in Salt Lake City are now free from their records, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Police Chief Mike Brown said the police department had a backlog of 66,000 automatic expungements as of August 2023. Since then, the SLCPD also received thousands more court-ordered expungements from someone actively looking for their criminal record to be removed. The expungements of these records reportedly eliminated the department’s backlog.

The majority of the backlog was reportedly made up of automatic expungement requests from the Utah Bureau of Investigations due to a 2019 law that requires the expungement of certain misdemeanor criminal records. These automatic expungements also affected certain charges that were dismissed or acquitted but still appeared on a criminal background check.

According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, one in four Utahns has a criminal record that is impacting their ability to get a job, housing, education, loans, or take advantage of other opportunities.

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“Having a criminal record can create obstacles that slow a person’s re-entry into society,” explained Chief Brown. “Second chances, in the appropriate circumstances, can help reduce recidivism. The Salt Lake City Police Department is committed to helping people overcome past mistakes by improving the expungement system by working with other law enforcement agencies and state lawmakers.”

While many misdemeanors may be eligible for an automatic expungement, more serious crimes are not. These crimes include registrable sex offenses, domestic violence-related offenses, certain weapons-related offenses, and simple assault and DUIs.

To learn more about getting a criminal record expunged, visit the Utah Courts website or Clean Slate Utah.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement that she was proud of the police department in their efforts, adding that their work helps make the criminal justice system fair and supportive for those reentering the community.

“Expungement is an important process in our system, empowering individuals with a fresh start to reach their ambitions and unlock a better future full of hope and opportunity,” said Mendenhall.

Brown said the police department was able to quickly work through its backlog thanks in part to additional funding approved by the Salt Lake City Council. Council Member Alejandro Puy said the council advocated for the funding as soon as they learned about the large number of expungements needing to be processed.

“Expungements are crucial for individuals who have paid their debt to society, helping them move forward without being hindered from obtaining employment, housing, and other essential benefits because of outdated records,” said Puy.

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