As part of our “Changing the Narrative” campaign, we produced a Clean Slate Public Service Announcement, titled “For The Record,” that illustrates one of the core principles of our work: “People should not be defined by their records.” Learn more in this update from Stacey Ferguson, VP of Marketing & Communications.

November 16 marked the one-year anniversary of NY Governor Hochul signing the state’s Clean Slate Act, which is among the nation’s most expansive and inclusive legislation to seal old conviction records. What does that mean, and what comes next? Learn more in this update from Clean Slate New York partners at the Center for Community Alternatives.

On Veteran’s Day, as we honor those who served, one of CSI’s own reflects on her journey — one that intersects the pride of wearing a military uniform and the barriers imposed by having an arrest or conviction record. Learn more in this update from Bry Jones, Marketing & Communications Team Coordinator.

Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings" brings viewers the latest breaking news, smart conversation, and in-depth feature reporting — and on October 23, they invited our CEO, Sheena Meade, to join the broadcast. Learn more in this update from Sheena.

So far, Clean Slate laws have passed in twelve states, and three states have led the way with implementation: Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan. But what has been the real impact of these policies on the lives of people who live with a record? Our new report begins to answer that question. Learn more in this blog post by Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data.

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. Conducted by YouGov, the survey polled 800 individuals with arrest or conviction records to assess how Clean Slate laws are transforming lives by sealing eligible arrest and conviction records.

California’s Clean Slate law is a significant development in the national effort to provide automated record relief for millions of people who have records in America. As support for passing and implementing Clean Slate laws continues to grow, studies like these are how we can determine what’s working and what’s not — learn more in this blog post from CSI and California Policy Lab.

This year at CSI’s 2024 Annual Convening, we had the privilege of featuring Philadelphia-based artist Mark Loughney. Mark is a justice-impacted painter, draftsman, and portraitist, whose art acts as a national courier for justice reform efforts. Learn more about Mark’s work in this blog post by Bry Jones, Marketing & Communications Team Coordinator.

People often equate mental health challenges to walking through a dense fog. For someone struggling with their mental health, while also living with the consequences of an arrest or conviction record, that fog can be even thicker. With Clean Slate, we can create better conditions. Read more in this blog post by Morgan Kelly, Marketing & Communications Strategist.

Stigma surrounding people with records can stick a scarlet letter on people long after they’ve paid their debt to society, which can add to the barriers people face when trying to build a better life. That’s why narrative change is a key part of CSI’s three-pronged strategy to fulfill our mission. Read more in this blog post by Stacey Ferguson, V.P. of Marketing & Communications.

H.R. 2930 and S. 5266 make up the Clean Slate Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation aims to automatically seal records of eligible nonviolent offenses, giving people the chance to move forward without the constant shadow of their past holding them back. Read this blog post by Reginald Darby, Federal Legislative Director, to learn why we need a federal Clean Slate.

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.

For the third year in a row, CSI participated in the CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Then, just a couple of weeks later, we flew 35 advocates to D.C. to advocate in Congress for H.R. 2930, the Federal Clean Slate bill. Learn more about these federal efforts in this blog post by Reginald Darby, Federal Legislative Director.

In the past year, more than 48 million Americans battled a substance abuse disorder. At the same time, 70 - 100 million people in America are living with an arrest or conviction record. Learn more about the intersection of recovery and Clean Slate in this blog post by Alex Williams, Chief of Staff.

September 13, 2024, marks 30 years since President Bill Clinton signed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a bill that overwhelmingly increased the number of people living with records. That bill serves as a sobering reminder of the impact a president can have on our legal system. Read more in this blog post by Sheena Meade, CEO.

The support and success behind Clean Slate continue to grow — but it’s not happening by chance. There’s a comprehensive, multi-year strategy behind the work that we do. That strategy is laid out in our Strategic Plan in detail, available on our website, and it involves a few key elements that propel this movement forward every day. Learn more in this blog post by our Chief of Staff, Alex Williams.

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.

On June 13 and 14, 2024, over 300 Clean Slate advocates from around the country gathered in Philadelphia for two days of learning and making connections at The Clean Slate Initiative’s 2024 Annual Convening. From the knowledge-sharing sessions to the networking opportunities to the planning for future campaigns, attendees truly embodied the event’s theme: Learning, Leading, and Going for More!

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced executive actions granting pardons for misdemeanor convictions for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. The move comes two weeks before the state is expected to remove misdemeanor cannabis convictions from the state’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), which is slated to happen on July 1, 2024.

This year’s 2024 Annual Convening were in for a special treat. We had the pleasure of partnering with directly impacted artists and authors to spotlight their work with our Clean Slate community, and we’re honored to be able to feature them here.