cori reform

Advocates for access to sealing and expunging criminal records are citing progress but also continuing hurdles in the ability of Massachusetts residents to take advantage of changes in how long and under what conditions a prior offense can stay on someone’s public record.

Surrounded by Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that rolls back mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent crimes, reforms the state’s criminal records laws making it easier for ex-offenders to seal their records and reduces fines and fees assessed on ex-prisoners.