New York Governor Kathy Hochul is confident that an agreement can be reached to pass the Clean Slate Act, which would seal many criminal records. The proposal has been a long-sought goal for supporters of changing New York’s criminal justice laws, but Republican lawmakers have questioned its efficacy given voter polls showing New Yorkers want to address crime and public safety. The Democratic leadership of the Legislature and the governor support sealing criminal records to give people who have been convicted of a crime a better opportunity to get a job or housing. The legislative session is scheduled to end on June 8, and supporters estimate up to 2 million people could benefit from the measure if adopted.
With less than a week to go before state lawmakers adjourn likely for the rest of the year, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday said she is confident an agreement can be reached to seal many criminal records. In accordance with the latest findings of Spectrum News, the proposal, known as the Clean Slate Act by its supporters, has come close to passing in prior legislative sessions and has been a long-sought goal for supporters of changing New York’s criminal justice laws.
Despite prior setbacks, the Democratic leadership of the Legislature and the governor are supportive of sealing criminal records with an eye toward giving people who have been convicted of a crime a better opportunity to get a job or housing. The proposal, however, has been met with opposition from Republican lawmakers who have questioned the efficacy of doing so given voter polls showing New Yorkers want to address crime and public safety.
Lawmakers have proposed sealing criminal records after three years for misdemeanors and after seven years for felonies, not counting time in prison where probation and parole is completed and no charges are pending. Supporters have estimated up to 2 million people could benefit from the measure if adopted.
However, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay earlier this year charged the proposal could prove dangerous. “I think it’s a very dangerous proposal because there are some jobs out there that you want to know some peoples’ backgrounds,” he said.
Despite the opposition, Gov. Hochul remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached before the legislative session ends on June 8. “I’ve supported Clean Slate, but there’s some technical changes,” she told reporters on Sunday in New York City. “We want to make sure we exclude certain kinds of crimes and make sure the length of time is proper.”
If the Clean Slate Act is passed, it would allow people with criminal records to have their records sealed, meaning that their criminal past would not come up during background checks. This would make it easier for them to secure employment, housing, and other opportunities that they would otherwise be disqualified for due to their criminal record.
Many supporters of the Clean Slate Act argue that people with criminal records are often unfairly discriminated against, even if they have served their time and paid their debt to society. They argue that this discrimination makes it nearly impossible for people with criminal records to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
The Clean Slate Act has been a long-sought goal for criminal justice reform advocates. Its passage would be a significant step forward in addressing the issues of mass incarceration and criminal justice reform in New York.
Despite the opposition from some Republicans, Gov. Hochul remains committed to the proposal and is confident that it will be passed before the legislative session ends. “I am confident we’ll be able to work something out that’s good for the people of this state,” she said.
With just a few days left before the legislative session ends, the fate of the Clean Slate Act remains uncertain. However, Gov. Hochul’s optimism and commitment to the proposal suggest that there is still hope for criminal justice reform in New York.
