Resources for Journalists and Media Outlets

This page is updated to include materials related to events, legislation, and other activities of The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI). Outlets are free to use the materials on this page, citing the Clean Slate Initiative as the source when appropriate.

Please direct any inquiries related to these materials to press@cleanslateinitiative.org.

PAGE CONTENTS

OVERVIEW ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT LEADERSHIP MEDIA RELEASES VIDEOS

  • Our Mission

    The Clean Slate Initiative passes and implements laws that automatically clear records for people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free, and expand who is eligible for clearance.

  • Our Vision

    People will no longer be defined by their records and will have the opportunity to contribute to their community, have a fair opportunity to work, get an education, and achieve their full potential.

OUR APPROACH

  • CSI believes that those most impacted by incarceration and criminalization should be central in deciding and implementing remedies that improve their lives. Our work is rooted in the experience of directly impacted individuals.

  • CSI works with stakeholders across the political spectrum who share our fundamental values that fair treatment, redemption, and access to meaningful Second Chance opportunities must be available to all.

  • We build and support coalitions that are meaningfully broad. We believe we need engagement from all types of stakeholders to win. We support and empower local leaders and organizations and leave them stronger.

  • We make decisions that move us towards long-term change. We do not limit ourselves to short-term wins and we keep going when the work feels hard and even when we lose. We are committed to implementation and seeing the process through. We do not harm the criminal justice reform movement in achieving our goals.

  • We aim for policies that reduce existing racial disparities in the criminal legal system.

  • We work to change hearts and minds. We are setting the stage for bigger, deeper, and more impactful change and to do this we have to change how people think about people with criminal records.

CLEAN SLATE TIMELINE

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

  • Over 3 million people are eligible for full record clearance in the two (2) states where CSI helped pass legislation in 2023 (Minnesota and New York).

  • Over 5 million people are eligible to have their full record cleared in the eight (8) states where The Clean Slate Initiative helped pass legislation.

  • Over 6 million people are eligible to receive full or partial record clearance in the eight (8) states The Clean Slate Initiative helped pass legislation.

  • Over 14 million people in America are eligible for full record clearance in the 12 states that have passed legislation that meets CSI's policy minimums.

  • 37% of the more than 14 million people who are eligible to receive full record clearance in the 12 states that have passed legislation that meets CSI's policy minimums are people of color.

CSI Executive Leadership

SHEENA MEADE

Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, is a walking barrier breaker and one of America’s leading experts on legal system reform.

In April of 2023, CSI received a landmark financial commitment through The Audacious Project, a donor collaborative housed at TED. The award supports the organization’s strategy to unlock opportunities for up to 14 million people in America and is an unprecedented investment in second chances. As part of the announcement from The Audacious Project, Sheena presented a TED talk at the TED2023 Conference in Vancouver, BC. Watch Sheena’s TED Talk. Read more about CSI’s $75 million commitment catalyzed by The Audacious Project.

Sheena is regularly featured in media such as Ebony, CNN, PBS News, Newsweek, and more as one of America’s most influential and dynamic nonprofit leaders, women empowerment experts, and the premier voice for criminal justice reform. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Welfare Foundation and also sits on the boards of the Policing Project at NYU School of Law; Live Free USA; and the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Engagement.

MEDIA RELEASES

Featured
New Data Model Sheds Light on the Depth of America's Arrest and Conviction Records Crisis

In a breakthrough for public policy creation, a new data model unveiled by The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) offers detailed insights into the crisis of arrest and conviction records in America. The data model powers The CSI Data Dashboard, which presents data visualizations and population estimates for people in the U.S. impacted by arrest and conviction records, with data further broken down by race, ethnicity, sex, and type of record within each state and over time.

Governor Shapiro Signs Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Expansion Bill

The Pennsylvania state legislature passed HB 689, legislation that builds on the state’s groundbreaking 2018 Clean Slate law by expanding access to second-chance opportunities for people with felony convictions. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support and was immediately signed into law earlier today by Governor Josh Shapiro.

Gov. Hochul Signs Landmark Clean Slate Bill into Law

“After years of sustained advocacy and strong public demand, New York is on the path to ensuring that a past mistake will not forever foreclose the opportunity for people to build a better life for themselves and their families.

“Soon, millions of New Yorkers will no longer be defined by their records…

New York Becomes 12th State to Pass ‘Clean Slate’ Record Clearance Policy

“We applaud New York lawmakers for reaching an agreement and supporting this common-sense policy. Over 2.3 million people have a record in New York, but only .2% of eligible people have cleared their records under the current system. This Clean Slate bill will automatically clear records for anyone who is eligible, helping more New Yorkers gain a second chance at a better future…

Statement on the Introduction of the Clean Slate Act of 2023

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act were introduced in U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan sponsorship.

Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) are lead sponsors of the Clean Slate Act, and Reps. Trone (D-MD) and Armstrong (R-ND) are lead sponsors of the Fresh Start Act.

These two substantial, bipartisan criminal justice reform efforts would provide some relief to the millions of people who face barriers because of a past arrest or conviction record.

Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, issued the following statement in support of the bills…

The Clean Slate Initiative Receives Landmark Commitment Through The Audacious Project

Earlier today, a $75 million commitment to The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) was announced at the TED2023 conference. The investment will fund a large portion of the organization’s strategy to pass laws in 15 states in the next six years that expand eligibility and streamline the clearance process for arrest or conviction records, ultimately unlocking opportunities for 14 million people in America — a strategy that’s been met with overwhelming support across political divides…

VIDEOS

SHEENA MEADE

Talks about The Clean Slate Initiative’s work and the award catalyzed by The Audacious Project.

CLEAN SLATE STORYTELLER VIDEOS