By AP
Nashville, TN – Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations say increased unemployment is causing more Tennesseans to expunge their criminal records so they can be more competitive in the job market. The Tennessean reports, through November, the TBI wiped away the criminal records of nearly 26,700 people. Workers typically process between 20,000 and 24,000 requests each year. In 2008, nearly 35,000 people
had arrests taken off their criminal records. TBI officials would not speculate on why requests are up, but officials say the increase coincides with unemployment accompanying the economic downturn.