Clean Slate laws shift the burden of clearance from individuals to the state — eliminating the barriers of navigating a complex, costly, and often inaccessible petition-based system. Learn more in this research brief by Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data, which draws on a recent survey of 800 people with arrest and conviction records in Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan.

Shortening waiting periods for record clearance increases the employability of qualified workers, which improves the economy, strengthens businesses, and transforms the lives of those seeking a meaningful career. Learn more about the importance of reforming waiting periods in this policy short by The Clean Slate Initiative.

To date, in the 12 states that have passed Clean Slate laws, more than 2 million Black adults are eligible to have their records fully cleared. Learn more about the impact of Clean Slate laws on Black communities in this policy short by The Clean Slate Initiative.