Maine Background Check Law to Give One-Time Shoplifters a Second Chance

The Maine House of Representatives has passed bill LD 549 allowing for a one-time shoplifting conviction to be sealed from public view and thus not seen on criminal background checks. 

Originally, the bill was to include a variety of non-violent, non-sexual crimes, but lawmakers amended the bill to seal the records of only those convicted of a Class E theft charge, where the person was older than 18, but not yet 21 years of age. Also, at least 4 years have had to have passed since serving the sentence imposed and the person has no other criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.

State Rep. Jarrod Crockett, R-Bethel, said the bill was "intended to help those who had made a single criminal mistake in their youth from having to pay for it for the rest of their lives". With passage of the bill, a person's background check will not prevent them from getting a job, joining the military or going to college.

The bill still faces another vote in both the Maine Senate and the House before going to Gov. Paul LePage for consideration.

It is always a good idea to see what your background check says about you by purchasing one through a trusted source, like the one offered through Intellicorp on Caregiverlist.com.