(Cupventi.com) – In New York, a new law called the “Clean Slate Act” was recently signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. This law is a bit controversial because it allows people who were once convicted of crimes to have their records sealed if they stay out of trouble for a certain number of years.
Under this new law, if someone had a serious crime (called a felony), their record would be sealed eight years after they were convicted or released from prison. For less serious crimes (called misdemeanors), the records would be sealed after three years.
However, the law doesn’t apply to certain crimes like sex offenses or very serious felonies such as kidnapping or terrorism. It also doesn’t cover drug possession felonies.
Governor Hochul thinks this law will help fight crime by giving people a second chance. She said, “The best crime-fighting tool is a good-paying job. That’s why I support giving New Yorkers a clean slate after they’ve paid their debt to society and gone years without an additional offense.”
A person named Melinda Agnew, who works with the Center for Community Alternative, believes that this law will make a big difference in people’s lives. She shared her own experience, saying, “Twenty-six years after successfully completing my sentence, despite all that I have accomplished, I continue to have doors closed in my face.”
The new law will start working in a year, but it doesn’t mean everyone will forget about the past. Law enforcement, prosecutors, the Education Department, and the courts will still be able to access the sealed records.
Governor Hochul hopes that this law will help address the problem of not having enough workers in New York. She said, “And as our state faces a worker shortage, with more than 450,000 job openings right now, this new law will help businesses find more workers who will help them grow, expand and thrive.”
However, not everyone agrees with this law. Former Governor David Paterson, who is a Democrat, thinks the idea is good, but he believes it might not work well in practice. He mentioned that some people get arrested many times, making it hard for them to truly have a clean slate.