The Clean Slate Initiative

Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks for your interest in The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI). So many people reach out to us excited about Clean Slate laws, wanting to learn more, so we compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) here.

What is Clean Slate?

Clean Slate laws are policies that meet CSI’s standards, which include:

Automation of record clearance;
Automatic clearance upon eligibility of the record (noting that eligibility varies from state to state);
Inclusion of arrest records;
Inclusion of misdemeanor records; and,
A strong recommendation for laws to include eligibility of at least one felony record.

What is the difference between record clearance, expungement, sealing, and pardons?

Record clearance, expungement, sealing, and pardons are all legal processes that aim to address a person's record, but they have different implications and effects:

Record Clearance: This is a broad term that encompasses various legal processes to remove or mitigate the impact of a criminal record. It can include expungement, sealing, and other similar procedures.
Expungement: Expungement is a legal process that allows for the removal of certain non-convictions and convictions from a person's record. After expungement, in most cases, it's as if the conviction never happened. The record is typically sealed from public view or deleted and can only be accessed in limited circumstances.
Sealing: Sealing a record means that it is not available for public view, but it still exists in the eyes of the law. Certain individuals, like law enforcement or government agencies, may still have access to sealed records in some situations. Additionally, impacted individuals can access their own sealed records by court order or request.
Pardons: A pardon is an official forgiveness granted by the government for a specific crime. It does not remove the conviction from the person's record, but it may restore certain rights, like the right to vote or other civil rights, depending on the jurisdiction.

Does CSI provide legal help or record clearance services?

CSI does not provide legal services, record sealing services, or offer legal advice. If you are in need of information, services or legal advice related to your record, we encourage you to reach out to resources in your state that will be able to provide more information about record sealing. Here are some resources that are a good place to start:

The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC): Locate legal service providers in a state or territory. Please note that contact information for legal aid organizations, bar associations, and other organizations that engage in record clearance work is provided for informational purposes only. The NRRC and CSI do not endorse or recommend any organization or individual referenced on the site.
50-State Survey of Expungement Laws and Forms: This compilation of expungement laws and forms is a great overview if you’re looking for information about the types of records that may be expunged or sealed in your state, as well as forms to apply for record relief.
50-State Comparison: Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief: A comprehensive resource from the Collateral Consequences Resource Center that lists information about expungement, sealing, and other record relief in all 50 states.
Clean Slate in States: Many states have active Clean Slate campaigns that may have connections to record clearance resources. To see if your state has an active campaign, and find a campaign website, visit our Clean Slate in States page.
Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM): FICPFM is a national network of civil and human rights organizations led by people with conviction histories and their family members. Visit their website’s network page to find resources and movements near you.
Clean Slate Clearing House: The Clean Slate Clearinghouse provides people with juvenile and adult criminal records, legal service providers, and state policymakers with information on record clearance policies in all U.S. states and territories.

We recognize that the journey to record sealing can be overwhelming, and we want to honor that by doing our part to offer support in the ways we are able, like providing the resources below. We do not provide legal services, record sealing services, or offer legal advice. If you contact us with a question about sealing your record, we will refer you to a resource listed here.

How do I know if my record is eligible for Clean Slate?

Eligibility requirements look different in each state that has passed and implemented Clean Slate policies. The National Reentry Resource Center’s (NRRC) Clean Slate Clearinghouse hosts many resources, including tools that catalog and compare record clearance statutes. Visit nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/cleanslate for more information.

Are there resources for sealing a federal record?

Currently there is no standard process for the sealing of federal records. There are very limited avenues for someone to seal a federal record, like when an arrest or conviction was found to be invalid or a clerical error was made, but those opportunities are comparatively rare.

The federal government does have a pardon process in place, which is different from record sealing because a pardon simply “forgives” the crime — it does not seal a person’s record. In June 2024, the U.S. Office of the Pardon Attorney released a new version of its application for presidential pardons. For information and resources to apply for a pardon, visit justice.gov/pardon/apply-pardon

Even after receiving a federal pardon, a record can still be a barrier, blocking access to housing, employment, education, and more.

For more information about our efforts to bring Clean Slate to the federal level, check out our Federal Clean Slate page.

Does CSI accept funding proposals from non-profit organizations?

CSI does not accept unsolicited requests for funding, does not award general support grants, and does not fund outside the priorities of our strategic plan. We provide grant funding to organizations through a collaborative process where the grant supports shared Clean Slate goals.

What states have Clean Slate Campaigns?

Currently, CSI supports campaigns in over two dozen states. To find out more about how you can support a local campaign, visit our Clean Slate in States page to stay updated on the latest developments. To stay in touch and up to date on Clean Slate Initiative news, sign up for our email list.

What states have passed Clean Slate laws?

To date, twelve states have passed Clean Slate policies that meet CSI’s policy minimums.

Those states are:

Pennsylvania (2018)
Utah (2019)
New Jersey (2019)
Michigan (2020)
Connecticut (2020)
Delaware (2021)
Virginia (2021)
Oklahoma (2022)
Colorado (2022)
California (2022)
Minnesota (2023)
New York (2023)

How do I partner with CSI to start a Clean Slate campaign in my state?

If you are interested in starting a Clean Slate campaign in your state, please fill out our contact form on our contact page with as much information as possible, and our Campaigns team will review it.

Does CSI have volunteer opportunities?

CSI does not currently have any volunteer opportunities available.