Resources for Journalists and Media Outlets

Our Marketing & Communications team works to be a reliable resource for journalists and media outlets to support accurate and effective media coverage on issues related to The Clean Slate Initiative's mission. Our goal is to support informed reporting by providing access to press releases, background information, expert contacts, up-to-date data, and other resources. 

If you are a member of the media on a deadline, contact press@cleanslateinitiative.org or (321) 754-1380.

Resource Directory

  • 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.

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

  • More than 14 million people in America

    are eligible for full record clearance in the 12 Clean Slate states once the laws are implemented.

  • More than 15 million people in America

    are eligible for full or partial record clearance.

  • 37%

    of the more than 14 million people in America eligible for full record clearance are people of color.

NOTABLE DATA POINTS

  • Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the United States

    has an arrest or conviction record that limits their ability to work, obtain housing, and engage in civic life. Having a record, even an arrest record, is a significant barrier to economic mobility.

    Source: CSI Data Dashboard

  • 94% of employers and 90% of landlords

    use background checks to screen applicants for an arrest or conviction record.

    Source: National Consumer Law Center

  • 72% of colleges and universities

    use background checks to screen prospective students.

    Source: Stewart & Uggen

  • There are more than 42,000 state and federal regulatory restrictions

    that limit the ability of people with a record to access meaningful opportunities to build a better life.

    Source: National Reentry Resource Center

  • $78 - $87 billion

    is the estimated loss in gross domestic product every year resulting from shutting people with records out of the workforce.

    Source: Barber & Bucknor

  • Less than 10%

    of people get their records cleared within five years of becoming eligible.

    Source: Colleen Chien

  • Nearly 50%

    is the percentage by which an arrest or conviction record reduces a job seeker’s chance of getting a callback or job offer.

    Source: Pager, Western & Sugie

  • 11% and 22%

    the average percentages for the increased likelihood of employment and increase in wages, respectively, for people one year after receiving record clearance.

    Source: Prescott & Starr

CSI RESOURCES

  • CSI logo

    The CSI Data Dashboard

    CSI’s data model is the first of its kind, allowing researchers, lawmakers, advocates, and the public to estimate the individual-level impacts of Clean Slate laws broken down by race, ethnicity, sex, and types of records.

    Visit the CCRC website
  • CSI logo

    Reforming Waiting Periods:

    Fostering Equity and Unleashing Employment Opportunities

    A Clean Slate Policy Short by Jesse Kelley and Dr. Laura Chavez

    View the CSI Policy Short
  • CSI logo

    Clean Slate Laws:

    Pathways to Equity and Justice for Black Communities in America

    A Clean Slate Policy Short by Sam Sinyangwe and Jesse Kelley

    View the CSI Policy Short

RELIABLE RESOURCES

  • Clean Slate Clearinghouse

    The National Reentry Resource Center’s tool for comparing record clearance policies across states.

    View the NRRC tool in action!

  • An online searchable database

    that identifies and categorizes the statutes and regulations that impose collateral consequences in all 50 states, the federal system, and the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The NICCC is a part of the National Reentry Resource Center.

    Click Here
  • Collateral Consequences Resource Center Logo

    Collateral Consequences Resource Center

    Restoration of Rights Project

    50-State Comparison: Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief

    Visit the CCRC website
  • Paper Prisons Initiative logo

    The Paper Prisons Initiative

    conducts empirical research to measure, study, and narrow the Second Chance Gap - the difference between eligibility and delivery of relief from the criminal justice system.

    Click Here

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

RECORD CLEARANCE EXPLAINED

Nearly all states have a record clearance process. The terminology varies from state to state, with sealing, expunging, and clearing being among the most commonly used terms. While each term has distinct legal meanings and criteria, they are often used interchangeably, and they all broadly describe the same process: restricting public access to arrest and conviction records.

The eligibility criteria for record clearance varies by state - yet typically hinges on factors like record or conviction type, time elapsed, and completion of sentencing.

In most states, the onus is on the individual to initiate the process, which often requires:

  • Awareness of the process and personal eligibility for record clearance;

  • Filing a petition with a court;

  • Attending court proceedings, potentially taking time off of work;

  • Hiring an attorney;

  • Navigating bureaucratic processes; and,

  • Monitoring record clearance to verify that the appropriate agencies have accurately updated records in accordance with the court's orders.

The process is inefficient and burdensome for most people. As a result, less than 10 percent of those eligible for relief actually receive it.

Clean Slate laws streamline record clearance by automating the process and shifting the burden to the state to ensure everyone who is eligible for record clearance receives it. Doing so alleviates the strain on court resources and removes the socioeconomic barriers to accessing record relief.

CRITERIA FOR CLEAN SLATE LEGISLATION

The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) and state-based partners build coalitions to pass Clean Slate laws at the state and federal levels. While CSI advocates for expansive and comprehensive record clearance legislation, the minimum criteria a state law must meet to meet CSI standards 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.

MEDIA RELEASES & MATERIALS

Featured
The Clean Slate Initiative Applauds the Filing of Senate Companion Bill to H.R. 2930, The Clean Slate Act of 2023

The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) celebrates the introduction of S. 5266, sponsored by Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Bob Casey (D-PA). The legislation is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 2930, The Clean Slate Act of 2023, and its filing represents a major bipartisan achievement, standing out amidst the heightened partisanship of election season. Read more in this press release.

Read More →
Words Matter: A Call for Responsible Dialogue During the Presidential Race

Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, addresses campaign strategists, the media, and the general public in an open letter, urging careful consideration of the language used in the final few months of the presidential race.

Read More →
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.

Read More →
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.

Read More →
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…

Read More →
A Bounced Check, a Police Arrest, and the Fight to Give Millions a Second Chance: Sheena Meade Discusses Clean Slate on NPR’s TED Radio Hour

On Friday, June 30, 2023, Sheena Meade was featured on NPR’s TED Radio Hour as the first installment in the show’s Audacious Solutions episodes. Tune in here.

Read More →
CSI’s 2023 Annual Convening Recap: We United for Second Chances

On June 8 & 9, 2023, over 200 advocates gathered in Oklahoma City with a shared vision and a clear goal: uniting for second chances and advancing Clean Slate nationwide. Read more in this 2023 Convening recap.

Read More →
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…

Read More →
Featured
Research Recap: CSI’s Findings from 2024
Research Recap: CSI’s Findings from 2024

At CSI, research is more than just numbers — it’s a tool for transformation. Here’s a look at some of the research projects we tackled in 2024 and how they’re shaping the future of Clean Slate work. Learn more in this update from Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data.

Read More →
Clean Slate in States: End of Year Wrap Up
Clean Slate in States: End of Year Wrap Up

CSI supported partners’ work in over fifteen states in 2024. These efforts are building momentum and paving the way for even greater successes ahead. Learn more in this update from Erik Altieri, Director of Campaigns.

Read More →

VIDEOS

CLEAN SLATE STORYTELLER SERIES

SHEENA MEADE

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

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.