This report highlights that, no matter its severity, a criminal record carries a heavy burden, leading to decreased employment opportunities, less than average annual earnings, fewer housing options, and fewer educational opportunities. The report also discusses that many individuals who are eligible to clear their record fail to do so successfully; some are simply unaware of their eligibility, while others struggle to overcome hurdles such as administrative hassles, access to counsel, or affording court costs and fees.

In this report, the author recommends that Texas automate the record sealing process for those already entitled to an order of nondisclosure. Through the Department of Public Safety’s Computerized Criminal History System, Texas could create an automated eligibility determination that would automatically seal records. This would, the author asserts, allow court resources to be used more efficiently and eliminate all fees and forms, while the record holder would no longer be required to initiate the petition process—helping speed up the process to record relief and removing barriers to individuals getting back to work.