Senator Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn sponsored a new “Clean Slate” bill that would help previously incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives once their sentence has been completed. Not only would the bill make finding employment and housing easier for many, it would also significantly benefit the state’s economy.
Only a small portion of eligible citizens are able to seal their record under the current law. Right now, the law involves a record-sealing process that is not automatic, and requires a whopping 10-year waiting period once an individual has completed their sentence. Records show that eligibility applies to roughly 600,000 New Yorkers, yet less than 2,500 actually finish the process, which totals to a completion rate of less than 1%. The new Clean Slate bill would symbolize hope for many people still suffering from convictions that took place long ago. Sen. Zellnor Myrie is eager to remove the stigma surrounding a person’s criminal record:
“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”
It’s no secret that Black and Latino communities are seeing the highest rates of incarceration. Automatic expungement is a key element in the new Clean Slate law, as it dismisses the tedious and taxing process that many New Yorkers have dismissed in the past. Under the proposed legislation, a conviction would automatically be expunged five years after the sentencing of a misdemeanor, and seven years after the sentencing of a felony, as long as the individual stays out of trouble. Our nation’s tendency to keep individuals with criminal histories from participating in the workforce costs the U.S. economy between $78 billion and $87 billion annually in lost GPD, according to the ACLU. With that being said, the predisposition that a conviction defines a person’s character and skill only harms our country. If New York passes the new Clean Slate bill, other states will likely eventually recognize its benefits, ultimately marking a win for the entire nation.
A criminal conviction does not define you. Contact Easy Expunctions at (877) 784-0213 or visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com for an easy and affordable record-clearing process.