The current CORI system is broken, and outdated. It must be updated to reflect changes in its use. The greatly expanded use of CORI and the diverse circumstances that can lead to an individual having a CORI make it impossible for many qualified applicants to obtain employment, housing, student loans, and other benefits.

In the midst of the current fiscal and economic crisis, the Commonwealth cannot afford an outdated system that keeps motivated residents from getting and keeping jobs, increases unemployment and reliance on public assistance, and decreases workforce productivity and tax revenue. 

 H3523/S1608, sponsored by Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Elizabeth Malia, proposes a number of solutions to fix the current CORI system:

• It simplifies the sealing process for non-conviction and outdated convictions: Establishes regularly scheduled court sessions to consider sealing recent non-convictions. Prohibits Criminal History Systems Board from disseminating to private employers outdated CORRI records that are eligible to be sealed.

• It prevents the dissemination of irrelevant and/or outdated records: Shortens the waiting period for sealing CORI to 3 years for a misdemeanor and 7 years for a felony.  Begins the waiting period when the individual re-enters the community, rather than after all supervision is complete, which often is many years later.  For any case where an individual is required to serve probation or parole beyond the waiting period, it delays sealing until the end of that supervision.

•  It helps employers better evaluate the risks and benefits of hiring an individual with a CORI record, by removing the CORI question as a first-level screen for job applicants and having employers check CORI after a qualified pool of applicants has been determined. 

Passing H3523/S1608 is necessary for creating a fair and just CORI system that works for employers, law enforcement, and people with outdated CORI records.

Email your State Representative, and ask them to support H3525/S1608!