Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Clean Slate Act into law Thursday, creating a path for millions of New Yorkers to seal their criminal records and clear obstacles to housing, education, and jobs.
The Clean Slate Act, which Hochul inked into law at the Brooklyn Museum on Thursday, will automatically seal most conviction records after a waiting period, provided a person is no longer on parole and has not reoffended. Misdemeanor convictions will be sealed three years after the completion of a sentence, while eligible felonies will be sealed after eight years.
Law enforcement will still have access to the records, as will certain employers in certain jobs like those working with children. And the most serious felonies, such as murder and sex crimes, will never be eligible for sealing.
