What is the purpose of expungement?

The purpose of expungement is to remove a conviction from official records. Expungement effectively clears an individual’s legal record, allowing them to move forward without the stigma of a past conviction affecting their life, such as in job applications or background checks. This legal process aims to provide a second chance for individuals who have made mistakes and taken steps towards rehabilitation.

In contrast, increasing penalties for a crime pertains to the modifications of legal consequences rather than the removal of records. Allowing for a retrial of a case involves re-examining the evidence and legal arguments in light of potential errors in the original trial, which is fundamentally different from expungement. Lastly, securing witness testimonies relates to gathering evidence for a case rather than addressing how past convictions are treated in legal records.