NEW YORK (Legal Action Center)- After years of stalwart advocacy with a diverse coalition of partners from across New York State, the Clean Slate Act has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Clean Slate NY will help New Yorkers move on with their lives by automatically sealing misdemeanor convictions after three years and felony convictions after eight years (barring sex offenses and non-drug Class A felonies) for individuals who have completed their probation/parole, have not had a subsequent conviction, and do not have pending charges. Clean Slate promises to help address the collateral damage of a criminal conviction that often permanently bars many individuals from basic opportunities like employment, housing, and higher education – collateral damage that, for decades, has wrought the most harm on Black, brown, and lower income New Yorkers. But our work isn’t done yet.
As Clean Slate is implemented by the State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) over the next four years, LAC will build upon our long-standing relationship with DCJS and utilize our extensive sealing and RAP sheet expertise to ensure the foundational values of the Clean Slate NY campaign are wholly integrated into its successful implementation.
LAC is proud to be a part of the Clean Slate New York campaign’s steering committee as we take next steps, along with Bronx Defenders, Center for Community Alternatives, Community Service Society of New York, Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition, The Legal Aid Society, and Policy Entrepreneur Zaki Smith.
The Clean Slate Act will strengthen our communities by ensuring that New Yorkers are not punished beyond their sentences and can be full and fair participants in economic and civic life – and we’re looking forward to ushering in this new era of opportunity.
