Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 24, 2012. Due to a technical error, the original links have been disabled. We apologize for the inconvenience.

House Bill 4146 passed the Oregon Senate yesterday and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.  This law removes the current five-year waiting period for expungement, which means that any person under 18 years of age charged or convicted of prostitution will be able to immediately clear their record.

As a criminal defense attorney in Portland, I have seen the problems a criminal conviction can create for someone looking to find a job or rent an apartment.  HB 4146 rightfully acknowledges that minors engaged in prostitution are victims of a larger criminal effort, and this is a helpful piece of legislation that is going to allow these victims to clear their criminal record and go on to have a better life.  Not only will those charged and convicted in the future be allowed immediate relief, those who have already been convicted and are waiting for the five-year time period to run will also be permitted to expunge their conviction without any further delay.

This law takes effect immediately upon being signed by the Governor.  This means that if you or someone you know is able to take advantage of this new law, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer to file the expungement as soon as possible.