ALBANY – New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services is preparing to seal marijuana convictions once the state’s marijuana decriminalization bill is signed into law.
According to the Division of Criminal Justice Services more than 200,000 pot convictions will be sealed because of the new law.
Under the legislation, passed earlier this year, marijuana possession of under two ounces will result in a fine of no more than $200.
“To implement the recent statutory changes, the agency is reviewing the specific record requirements and existing processes to determine the technology modifications that will be necessary,” said Division of Criminal Justice Services officials in a statement. “Currently we do not have a method for expunging of criminal records. That would have to be developed in conjunction with DCJS. We are in the process of reviewing the bill and have begun to address what new infrastructure will be necessary to comply with the statute, when enacted.”
Statewide, 24,409 people are expected to have no criminal record in the state after the sealing takes place. Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has not signed the bill into law yet.
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