Millions of New Yorkers Will Soon Have a Second Chance
Blog Post by Stephanie Porta, Director of Campaigns
Start spreading the news. New York’s on its way. And while the song that says, “If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere,” is referring to New York City, the same determined spirit is held by people across the Empire State - from Buffalo to Long Island, Brooklyn to the Plattsburg, and everywhere in between.
The hopeful pursuit of the American Dream comes with some fine print, though. Like many other places, a past mistake can prevent New Yorkers from accessing meaningful employment, housing, education, and other opportunities. However, 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 on opportunities for people to build a better life for themselves and their families.
On November 16, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York Clean Slate Act into law, making it the twelfth state to enact legislation that meets The Clean Slate Initiative’s policy minimums. As a result, when the law goes into effect in November 2024, more than 2.3 million people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free for a period of time are in line for a fair shot at redemption.
Soon, millions of New Yorkers will no longer be defined by their records and will have a fair opportunity to contribute to their community, work, get an education, and achieve their full potential. In addition to helping working families, the law will also help reduce recidivism, which increases public safety. Moreover, skilled workers previously denied opportunities will be able to provide more valuable contributions to the workforce, and the state’s economy stands to benefit.
Clean Slate policies can have a tremendous impact on people’s lives, but they do not just become laws out of the blue. Hundreds of community partners fought tirelessly to advance this policy over the past three years. It also took leadership from those elected to office. State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz were instrumental in passing The Clean Slate Act this session, and Governor Hochul's signature brought the bill across the finish line.
As always, there’s still more work to be done. Over the next year, state officials must ensure everything is running smoothly so people automatically receive the record clearance they have earned. Community partners will continue to spread the word about what this law means for folks and how to confirm eligible records are cleared. While our work is not done, this is still a momentous occasion, and soon, millions of New Yorkers will have more meaningful opportunities to reach their full potential.
Editor's Note: Clean Slate laws are gaining popularity in states across the country. Since this was published, the number of states that have passed Clean Slate policies may have changed. For the most up-to-date number of Clean Slate states, please check cleanslateinitiative.org/states.
