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The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is taking steps to expedite the expungement process for thousands of criminal records.

Expungements In Hawaii

In 2024, legislators in Hawaii passed House Bill 1595 (HB1595). It called for the expungement of various types of criminal records, including:

• Civil violations.
• Petty misdemeanor convictions.
• Juvenile convictions.
• Arrest record for persons charged with certain offenses but not convicted of a crime.
• Convictions that are eligible for redress.

Residents might qualify for expunction unless they have pending charges, other convictions for the same case that may not be expunged or unpaid court fees. More than 2,200 records were found to be worthy of review in the first month alone. Some officials expressed concerns that it might take much longer than expected to sort through all of them.

By the end of 2024, 640 records had been reviewed, and 81 convictions had been expunged. This was far fewer than anyone had hoped for when HB1595 went into effect. To help accelerate things, a new bill was introduced.

House Bill 132

In April 2025, House Bill 132 (HB132) was presented. Legislators realized that one big reason behind the slowness of the expungement work was that the previous bill did not include arrest records for all offenses which involved Schedule V substances. Because of this, officials would have to review each record manually to see if it involved an approved substance.

By including all Schedule V substances, legislators are greatly reducing the amount of research that has to be done for each case. This represents a big change in how reviewers may determine which records may or may not be included in the expunction log. Therefore, more records are expected to be expunged at a much faster pace.

What Employers Should Know

Organizations in Hawaii should be aware that various types of criminal records are now eligible to be expunged, and that the state is accelerating the process of getting these records sealed. That means more residents who had various records will be permitted to proceed as if those convictions never occurred.

Every employer should understand that once a record is expunged, it may not be used to help determine whether a person is eligible for any type of employment. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to work with a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). CRAs must go through a comprehensive audit and demonstrate that they follow reasonable procedures to only provide current, reportable records before they may earn accreditation.

Obtaining Background Checks

Most states have second chance laws, such as those that call for the expungement of non-violent records, in effect. Every employer, however, is still strongly encouraged to run comprehensive background checks. These reports help organizations make informed decisions, maintain safe workplaces and conduct due diligence practices. They can show hiring managers if a person is genuinely qualified and whether they have a relevant criminal history that might indicate they are ineligible for certain positions.

If your business is bringing on employees, contactors or volunteers, please contact us. Backgrounds Online is proud to be an accredited CRA with 25 years of experience in our industry. Our team members are highly trained and dedicated to providing unparalleled customer service. We are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.