The gist

Bipartisan bill lets people convicted for pre-18 crimes seek release after 20 years, auto-seals federal juvenile nonviolent records, and fixes background-check errors.

Who wins, who loses

• Wins: federal prisoners serving long sentences for juvenile-age crimes; teens with federal nonviolent records seeking jobs or college.
• Loses: prosecutors lose mandatory-minimum leverage; crime victims face possible resentencing hearings.

What it does

• Allows sentence reductions after 20 years for crimes committed before age 18, capped at 3 petitions.
• Narrows Controlled Substances Act enhancements to 'serious drug felony or serious violent felony' triggers.
• Auto-seals federal juvenile nonviolent records 3 years after supervision ends; auto-expunges offenses committed before age 15.
• Bans civil background checks from sharing 2+ year old arrests without case outcomes.

Why should I care?

Supporters say brain science shows teens aren't fully developed, so one mistake shouldn't block jobs and college forever. Critics argue repeated resentencing retraumatizes victims and hides records from employers who need them. The bill keeps military, security clearance, and law enforcement access as a compromise. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.