Testimony: CSI Supports Maryland's Clean Slate Act of 2024

Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data at  The Clean Slate Initiative, provided testimony in support of the Maryland Clean Slate Act of 2024, SB 602, which aims to address and rectify the impact of past records on individuals and communities.

As of 2019, around 1 million adults in Maryland, or 22% of the adult population, have some form of a record. Arrest and conviction records can present significant barriers to employment, housing, education, and social reintegration. Clean Slate legislation has proven to be an effective tool in addressing these challenges by allowing eligible individuals to have their records automatically sealed, giving them a fresh start.

In Maryland, only 2% of people with convictions eligible for clearance under the current petition-based system get relief. It would take 86 years to clear all the eligible convictions under the current system, which is costly and difficult for impacted individuals to navigate. Clean Slate will provide full record clearance to 410,000 adults, or 41% of those with records in the state.

Read the full testimony