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  • New York State Senate Passes Clean Slate Act to Reduce Barriers Faced by People with Past Criminal Convictions; Brennan Center Reacts
Press Release

New York State Senate Passes Clean Slate Act to Reduce Barriers Faced by People with Past Criminal Convictions; Brennan Center Reacts

The legislation would seal criminal records after set periods, improving access to jobs and housing for people with past convictions.

Last Updated: June 1, 2022
Published: June 1, 2022
Contact: Romario R. Ricketts, Media Contact, rickettsr@brennan.law.nyu.edu, 646-925-8734

Today the New York Senate passed the Clean Slate Act, a bill that would automatically seal the criminal records of many of the 2.3 million New Yorkers with conviction histories. Misdemeanor records would be sealed after three years and felonies after seven years. The bill is now before the Assembly.

Ames Grawert, senior counsel in the Justice program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, had the following comment:

“Passing the Clean Slate Act puts New York State at the head of a nationwide movement centered on creating real second chances for people who have been involved with the criminal justice system.

“By automatically sealing criminal records, the law will help millions of New Yorkers access better jobs and stable housing — particularly Black and Latino New Yorkers who have been disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system and policies that shut them out of better opportunities.

“We urge the Assembly to pass this legislation and Governor Hochul to sign without delay.”

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