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ALBANY – New York lawmakers took action Thursday to make changes to the state s parole system, but they failed to reach a deal on a bill favored by progressives that would have sealed certain criminal convictions after a set period of time.
The passage of the Less Is More Act, which would prevent those on parole from being sent back to prison for technical violations, came on the final day of the Legislature s 2021 session and now heads to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for final approval.
But lawmakers were not able to reach consensus on more robust measures to reform the parole system, including a bill that would focus parole hearings on signs of rehabilitation rather than the severity of the original crime.
New York State legislation discusses various bills, one of which would seal criminal records and reform parole fingerlakes1.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fingerlakes1.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ALBANY â The Clean Slate bill is set to pass the state Legislature before session ends this week after lawmakers negotiated a deal overnight to change the measure to seal, and no longer expunge, New Yorkersâ criminal records after completing a prison sentence.
Initially, Clean Slate was set to automatically seal and expunge New Yorkersâ criminal record after one year for misdemeanors and three years for certain felonies after release from prison.
The bill was reintroduced overnight to allow for the automatic sealing of misdemeanors after three years and felonies after seven years, but not expungement of records.
âWe got a deal, now, it just has to move through conference again,â Clean Slate sponsor Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, D-Queens, said Tuesday.
ALBANY — Lawmakers are pushing in their last scheduled days of session for the year to vote on a bill that would expunge the criminal records of millions of New