Dr. Laura Chavez, CSI, Gives Public Comment to Support a Maine Clean Slate Bill

Recently, the Maine State Legislature passed their first adult record sealing statute, and lawmakers are now discussing the consideration of future Clean Slate policies. On behalf of The Clean Slate Initiaitve (CSI), Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research and Data, submitted a public comment to express CSI’s support for a Clean Slate bill in Maine.

As of 2019, around 300,000 adults in Maine, or 25% of the adult population, have some form of a record, and people of color are disproportionately impacted — in Maine, nearly half of Black adults have 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. A Clean Slate bill in Maine would address and rectify the impact of past records on individuals and communities.

Read the full testimony below.