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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.
Use the buttons below to jump to sections on this page.
Our Mission
The Clean Slate Initiative passes and implements laws that automatically clear eligible records for people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free, and expands 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 Impact
Million
are eligible for full record sealing in the 12 Clean Slate states once the laws are implemented.
Million
are eligible for full or partial record sealing.
of the more than 14 million people in America eligible for full record sealing are people of color.
Notable Data Points
CSI Resources
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.
Research Brief: Awareness of Clean Slate Laws in Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan
Bipartisan Support for Clean Slate Laws Among People with Records in Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan
Automatic Record Clearance Removes Barriers and Delivers Improvements for People with Records
Reforming Waiting Periods: Fostering Equity and Unleashing Employment Opportunities
The Impacts of Clean Slate Laws in Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan
Clean Slate Laws: Pathways to Equity and Justice for Black Communities in America
Other Reliable Resources
Clean Slate Clearinghouse
The National Reentry Resource Center’s tool for comparing record clearance policies across states.
NICCC
The National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC) catalogs the collateral consequences imposed by the statutes and regulations of all fifty states, the federal system, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The NICCC is a part of the National Reentry Resource Center.
Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Restoration of Rights Project
50-State Comparison: Expungement, Sealing & Other Record Relief
The Paper Prisons Initiative
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. This website provides reports and information on state “second chance expungement gaps” - the difference between eligibility and delivery of expungement.
Glossary of Terms
Record Sealing 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.
Press Releases & Updates
Our Latest Press Releases
New Survey Confirms Impact of Clean Slate Policies in Utah, Pennsylvania, and Michigan
The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) today announces the results of a groundbreaking survey that provides the first comprehensive confirmation of the effectiveness of Clean Slate policies in Utah, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
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.
Governor Moore's Pardons Mark Another Step Forward for Maryland
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced executive actions granting pardons for misdemeanor convictions for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
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.
Our Latest Updates
From Judgment to Redemption: Why Faith Communities Support Clean Slate
People of faith have long believed in redemption, renewal, and the sacred dignity of every human being. That's why faith communities in Illinois support Clean Slate. Learn more in this guest update from Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain.
Reframing the Picture: The Power of Imagery in Second Chance Stories
Too often, media coverage, blog posts, and social media posts about legal system reform are accompanied by harmful, stereotypical imagery, reducing people to the moment of their worst mistake. We have a responsibility to make sure we're not silently reinforcing those stereotypes in our storytelling. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.
Clean Slate Storyteller Series
CSI Executive Leadership
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Dr. Sheena Meade
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ST Mayer
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Kenya Browning
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Jason Cooper
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Stacey Ferguson
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Alexandra (Alex) Williams
More About Dr. 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.
