The New York Clean Slate Act was enacted on November 16th, 2024, and will provide former convicts a clean slate by concealing conviction records to the eyes of possible hirers, overall boosting the economy and reconciling the stigma in the criminal justice system.
New York Governor, Kathy Hochul said in a formal statement, “Starting today, individuals who have paid their debt to society, stayed out of the criminal justice system, and are looking for a fresh start will begin to benefit from this landmark legislation.”
The Clean Slate Act is only applicable to conceal conviction records of misdemeanors and felony convictions after a certain time has passed after incarceration.
Ex-criminals with Class A felonies such as murder, and kidnapping, as well as some very serious drug felonies may not apply to have their criminal records concealed.
In addition, criminals who have been convicted of a sex crime of any sort are also not allowed to have their records concealed, despite what opposers to this legislation say.
The time after incarceration that someone convicted of a misdemeanor would have to complete would be three years with no repeated offenses.
As for someone convicted of a felony (non-Class A), they must complete 8 years after incarceration with no repeated offenses to be eligible for record concealment.
Objectors of the Clean Slate Act say that it poses a risk to public safety and say that the automatic nature of the act is harmful if ex-convicts have not reformed after their time spent in incarceration.
These opponents are alarmed by the “radical” reforms of the new legislation, but there is no valid reason to harbor these sentiments as the law only conceals the records of non-violent ex-criminals.
Furthermore, Clean Slate still provides access to otherwise sealed records for necessary and relevant purposes, including employment to people working with children, elderly people or at risk populations, ensuring the safety of society’s most vulnerable people.
As for the ex-convicts’ reformation, the automatic sealing of records has limitations. In the possible case that the ex-convict has no intention of becoming a law-abiding citizen, the records are still accessible, and landlords and hirers are still eligible to ask for references, records, credit checks, etc.
Not only is this act providing a fresh start for ex-convicts who want to stay on a better path, but this act also boosts the economy and helps replenish the lack of labor in New York.
According to Marlene Pollock of the Boston Globe, “A criminal record reduces a job-seeker’s chance of a callback by nearly half. Conversely, studies have shown that, within one year, individuals who benefited from automatic record-sealing were 12 percent more likely to be employed and earned 22 percent higher wages.”
No matter how old, criminal records create barriers to economic prosperity and success. Clean Slate offers the chance for ex-convicts to keep on the right path by being hired for jobs they may have otherwise never have been considered for.
Furthermore, when employed, ex-convicts run a lower chance of committing a crimes such as petty theft and shoplifting as they no longer have the motive when they have a stable income and housing.
On this very note, Kathy Hochul said, “The best crime-fighting tool is a good-paying job.”
In addition to serving as a crime-fighting tool, the Clean Slate Act will simultaneously boost the economy and address labor shortages.
In the words of Grace Ashford of the New York Times, “Employers can be hesitant to hire someone with a criminal record — a bias that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has said depresses the economy, amounting to $78 billion to $87 billion in lost gross domestic product.”
Considering this, The New York Clean Slate Act provides a fresh start for individuals with misdemeanor convictions, and puts them on the right path, while helping New Yorkers alike thrive, leading to a better and brighter future.
With the Clean Slate Act in place, New York City fulfills the model it has set since the opening of the gates of Ellis Island, as a land of new beginnings and economic prosperity.
