New York Legislature should pass the Clean Slate Act

Americans place a strong emphasis on the idea of second chances. We value the concept that with hard work and perseverance, people can overcome their mistakes and achieve success.

e idea is re ected in our celebration of rags-to-riches stories, as well as the concept of rehabilitation in the criminal-justice system.

We support the Clean Slate Act that is under consideration in the state Legislature this session, because it will o er people with a criminal conviction a second chance. For individuals, it would open up opportunities for stable employment, licenses to practice trades and decent housing. A larger labor pool would help employers hire for any number of jobs that aren’t always easy to ll.

e legislation would automatically seal a New Yorker’s conviction record once the individual became eligible. Eligibility would include completing a three-year

OP-ED waiting period for misdemeanor convictions and a seven-year waiting period for felony convictions, not counting time served in prison. e individual would be required to complete probation or parole and not have pending charges in New York. Sex o enses would not be eligible. ere is a long list of organizations that support the Clean Slate Act in New York, including organized labor, recovery groups, faith organizations, and racial and economic justice advocates. A number of business organizations back the bill as well: chambers of commerce in Brooklyn, Harlem, Rochester and Westchester, the Business Council of New York State, Verizon, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase.

In fact, Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan, published an op-ed in favor of the legislation in August 2021 in e New York Times. He noted that more than 70 million people have some type of arrest or criminal record, roughly equal to the number of Americans who have college degrees. One year after leaving prison, nearly half were unemployed.

“ at is a moral outrage,” Dimon wrote. “ is group is ready to work and deserves a second chance—an opportunity to ll the millions of job openings across the country.”

One study found that from 25 million to 30 million Americans with an arrest or conviction record are eligible to expunge or seal their records but have not done so. at comes from a lack of information about the process, the cost and the complexity. Automatic record clearing could stream- president & ceo K.C. Crain group publisher Jim Kirk publisher/executive editor

Frederick P. Gabriel Jr.

EDITORIAL editor-in-chief Cory Schouten, cory.schouten@crainsnewyork.com managing editor Telisha Bryan assistant managing editors Anne Michaud, Amanda Glodowski director of audience and engagement Elizabeth Couch audience engagement editor Jennifer Samuels digital editor Taylor Nakagawa art director Carolyn McClain photographer Buck Ennis senior reporters Cara Eisenpress, Aaron Elstein, C.J. Hughes, Eddie Small reporters Amanda D’Ambrosio, Nick Garber, Jacqueline Neber, Natalie Sachmechi, Caroline Spivack op-ed editor Jan Parr, opinion@crainsnewyork.com sales assistant Ryan Call to contact the newsroom: editors@crainsnewyork.com www.crainsnewyork.com/staff

ADAMS and Council

Members Speaks At Clean Slate Act Rally NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL/FLICKR line the process and boost employment. e Clean Slate Act would not limit background checks for law enforcement, prosecutors or the courts. For many types of jobs— police o cer, teacher, Uber or Lyft driver—background checks would still reveal the past criminal record. e same would apply to applications for a gun license.

Second chances o er people the dignity of being able to support themselves. We hope the Legislature will agree. ■