In an effort to have the Clean Slate Act passed before the current legislative session ends, the Clean Slate NY alliance applauded Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for his vocal support of the measure. The Clean Slate Act seeks to stop indefinite imprisonment for more than 2 million New Yorkers, build better and safer neighborhoods, and strengthen the economy of the state.
Before the session ends, “We will definitely consider Clean Slate before the end of the session…It helps public safety,” Heastie said. “It helps deal with the issues of a workforce. So I think there’s more understanding now of the benefits of Clean Slate.”
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Labor unions, business leaders, and Fortune 500 firms including Microsoft, Verizon, and JP Morgan Chase have all endorsed the measure.
The Clean Slate Act targets structural obstacles to employment and housing caused by prior convictions. According to a Harvard Legislation Review research, persons were 25% more likely to make more money and were less likely to be convicted of a crime within two years of having their records cleared under Michigan legislation. They were also 11% more likely to have a job.
The measure, which has received extraordinary support throughout the state, would result in an estimated yearly earnings gain of $7.1 billion for New York State. The Clean Slate Act has received support from fifteen cities and counties, including Albany, Buffalo, Westchester, and New York City.
Old criminal records would be erased under the Clean Slate Act, opening doors to housing, education, and the majority of employment, with the exception of jobs in law enforcement and with vulnerable groups. If a person is off parole or probation and has no recent charges or convictions, their misdemeanor convictions will expire after three years and their felony conviction after seven. Crimes involving sexual orientation cannot be concealed.
