The Clean Slate NY campaign recently announced new legislation that would expunge conviction records for 2.3 million New Yorkers.
Advocates say for people returning to their communities after the completion of their sentence, collateral consequences are holding them back from meaningfully contributing to their families, community and the state. A recent study found that within one year of expunging conviction records under a Michigan law, people were 11% more likely to be employed and earn 22% higher wages.
Clean Slate NY will establish a two-step process of first automatically sealing and later automatically expunging conviction records once a person has served their sentence. One study found that people who serve time in prison lose an average of $484,400 in earnings over their lifetime.
The bill is being sponsored by Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Queens Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.