TRENTON -- People convicted criminally in New Jersey will have more opportunities to see their names cleared under an overhaul to the state's expungement system that became law this week.

Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation cutting the wait period for an expungement of a criminal conviction by half and make drug court graduates eligible to have their records sealed.

Supporters of the measure say it will help select convicts find jobs and prevent them from re-offending.

"It gives people who currently have little chance of finding legal employment the opportunity to leave past mistakes behind them, find a job and be productive," said Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Union), one of the legislation's main sponsors.

The new law cuts the wait period for the expungement of a criminal conviction from 10 years to five, and the period for disorderly persons offenses from five to three years.

Under the expungement process, records of a person's arrests, detention or conviction are placed under seal if the expungement is approved by a judge. The new law allows drug court graduates -- people who have gone through the state's special probation program for drug addicts -- who have not been charged or convicted since their prior offense to see their records swept clean.

Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex), another sponsor, said drug court graduates have a far lower recidivism rate than other convicts.

"If we want these individuals to continue on the right path, then we have to give them the chance to do better instead of setting up roadblocks," McKeon said.

The measure was part of a flurry of bills approved by the governor on Tuesday.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.