After a four year campaign, we won passage of the Clean Slate Act, the nation’s most expansive legislation to seal old conviction records and allow New Yorkers to access jobs, housing, and education.
Right now, 2.3 million New Yorkers have old conviction records and face life-long barriers to opportunity for themselves and their families. For too many, a conviction record became a civil life sentence, barring access to employment, housing and higher education, and impeding their ability to build safe and stable lives. This state of perpetual punishment disproportionately impacts Black and brown New Yorkers due to decades of discriminatory policing and prosecution and deepened the systemic, intergenerational harm of the racial wealth gap. When the Clean Slate Act is fully implemented (in the fall of 2027), millions of New Yorkers will be able to access basic necessities, strengthening families and communities.
Perpetual punishment impacts millions of New Yorkers and their families.
1 in 7
80%
1 in 7
80%
That is why we fought to pass the Clean Slate Act, which:
Clean Slate is more than just a law—it’s a movement to restore dignity, opportunity, and economic stability to those unjustly punished long after their sentences are completed.
The Clean Slate Act addresses the profound, lasting harm caused by old conviction records, which have long served as barriers to full participation in society. By automatically sealing conviction records, Clean Slate Law removes these barriers, enabling individuals to move forward with their lives, support their families, and contribute to their communities.
The economic impact of Clean Slate is substantial. Research shows that people who have their records sealed are 11% more likely to have a job and earn 25% more within two years. This legislation is expected to generate an annual earnings boost of $7.1 billion for the state, helping to close the racial wealth gap, relieve New York’s labor shortage and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, studies indicate that individuals benefiting from record clearance are less likely to reoffend, contributing to public safety and reducing recidivism.
Clean Slate is supported by a broad and unprecedented coalition, including major labor unions, business leaders, and local legislatures across New York.
