CSI Presents at the Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference
Picture this: a room filled with academics, activists, and advocates, all eager to dissect the intricacies of justice reform. No, it's not the set of a legal drama series or a John Grisham novel; it's the Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) Conference!
During the 2023 SCJA annual conference held in mid-September, The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) hosted a panel titled "Blank Pages, Bright Futures: Streamlining Record Clearance for a Clean Slate." During the presentation CSI staff joined with colleagues from Right on Crime and Code for America to discuss the landscape of Clean Slate legislation and analyze the data-driven results and impacts of Clean Slate policies on individuals, families, and communities.
The Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference is like the Justice League of the Southern legal world, minus the capes and with way more coffee. You've got professors dropping knowledge left and right, lawyers finessing arguments, and researchers armed with more stats than you can shake a gavel at.
Our panel addressed the multifaceted landscape of Clean Slate legislation and implementation, and our esteemed panelists included a dynamic group of experts with backgrounds in law, policy, advocacy, and research:
Jesse Kelley, Senior Policy Strategist, The Clean Slate Initiative;
Chelsea Murphy, Campaign Strategist, The Clean Slate Initiative;
Candice Millsap, Senior Program Manager, Clear My Record, Code For America; and
Scott Peyton, Louisiana and Mississippi State Director, Right on Crime.
Our presentation highlighted how The Clean Slate Initiative aims to give individuals with records a fresh start by passing and implementing laws that automatically clear eligible records for people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free, and expands who is eligible for clearance.
With PowerPoint slides at the ready, Chelsea Murphy and I opened the discussion with a foundational explanation of CSI’s mission, including data and graphics about how many people in our country suffer from the ongoing consequences of a record (70 - 100 million!). Then, Candice Millsap flawlessly articulated CSI’s partnership with Code for America (CFA) and explained CFA’s Clear My Record program. Finally, Scott Peyton with Right on Crime explained the organization’s second chance advocacy approach: using data and leveraging bipartisanship to aid in the passage and successful implementation of Clean Slate policies. Case studies took center stage, showcasing real-world success stories where Clean Slate legislation has yielded measurable positive effects on individuals and communities.
Our session at the conference spurred a robust exchange with attendees from Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, among others. We had the distinct pleasure of networking with a spectacular array of research heavyweights, and our discussion left an indelible mark on everyone in the room. I might be biased, but I believe the buzz in the room after our session could have powered a small city!
Our presentation and discussion with the diverse audience promise to build relationships across academia and advocacy to guide anyone navigating the complex terrain of record sealing and justice reform.
As we pack up our knowledge and experiences from the SCJA conference, it's clear that this adventure was more thrilling than a legal drama novel or television series. From the networking to the serious discussions, we navigated the twists and turns of record sealing reforms with researchers, attorneys, and advocates.
Our presentation sparked fires of inspiration and left a trail of thoughtful conversations in its wake. Here's to more conferences, enlightening exchanges, and opportunities to shake up the world of justice reform.