N.Y. pols propose ‘clean slate’ legislation to seal and expunge criminal records
Denis Slattery
ALBANY — Advocates and lawmakers are again looking to give New Yorkers who have paid their debt to society a stigma-free fresh start.
A new “Clean Slate” bill being proposed would create a two-step process to automatically seal and eventually expunge past convictions and make it easier for those who served time to find work and housing opportunities.
“A criminal conviction shouldn’t be a life sentence to second-class status, but for many of our friends, neighbors, family members and fellow New Yorkers, that’s exactly what it is,” said sponsor Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn). “Our Clean Slate legislation aims to change that.”