Tennessee courts have decided to make it easier for people who have been arrested but never convicted of a crime to have their criminal records wiped clean.
On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of legislators, judges, and criminal justice officials gathered to announce a statewide court initiative where judges will ask eligible people if they want their records expunged.
Arrest records can come back to haunt people when they try to find a job. Some lawmakers said people who are not guilty of crimes shouldn't have to face hurdles when it comes to getting their records expunged.
People who have their charges dismissed or who are found not guilty are eligible to get the records wiped clean already. But court officials said many people don't know they have that right.
