Posted on 11/16/2023 2:45:31 PM PST by lowbridge
Some convicted criminals in New York will now have their records sealed when applying for jobs and filling out housing applications, after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the controversial new “Clean Slate Act” in a ceremony Thursday.
The governor hailed the progressive legislation as a way to get more ex-cons in the work force — despite opposition from some police groups and law-and-order conservatives.
“My number one job as the New York State Governor is to keep people safe, Hochul said. “And I believe that the best anti-crime tool we have is a job when people have steady work.”
The legislation seals eligible misdemeanor records after three years and certain felony records after eight years after their sentence is complete as long as the offender doesn’t commit another crime during that time.
Charges eligible to be sealed include misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, larceny and vandalism as well as non-violent felonies like money laundering, insurance fraud and compelling prostitution.
Crimes designated as class A felonies like murder, predatory sexual assault, terrorism, arson and kidnapping would not be eligible to be sealed. That excludes class A felonies for drug possession.
Law enforcement and courts will continue to have full access to records as would any employer that can currently conduct fingerprinting as part of a job application like schools and day cares.
“What Clean Slate does is give everyone the opportunity to be a safe and productive member of their community,” one of the bill’s sponsors, state Senator Zellnor Myrie said. “Help is on the way.”
The legislation takes effect one year from the bill signing, at which point the office of court administration will begin the clock for automatically sealing the eligible offenses as soon as someone finishes their sentence. The courts will have until 2027 to go back and seal
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
There’s nothing stopping the law abiding from attesting to the fact that they’ve never been arrested or convicted.
And it makes a great selling point.
If I needed a job or an apartment, I’d be happy to swear to that fact.
“So you have been in SUMMER CAMP (YEAR AROUND) for the past ten years?”
I am not entirely opposed to this. A mistake made while young shouldnt necessarily be hung around your neck for your entire life. As long as certain crimes are excluded.
“ Charges eligible to be sealed include misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, larceny and vandalism as well as non-violent felonies like money laundering, insurance fraud and compelling prostitution.
Crimes designated as class A felonies like murder, predatory sexual assault, terrorism, arson and kidnapping would not be eligible to be sealed. That excludes class A felonies for drug possession.”
Records are still accessible to law enforcement and jobs that use fingerprinting.
I’m leaning the same way.
How about a rap sheet as long as your arm of minor crimes?
Should we give that a pass?
Another WTF moment!
Our communist masters never have to worry about too much rattling of our chains...
The serfs always maintain their kneeling position and accept the continuing abuse...
Again, there is a time constraint set on it. You have to be clean for quite a while. If I was governor, I probably would not have signed it, but I can see the merits if executed correctly.
LMFAO !!!!!
Part of the problem is technology. Back in the day, if Otis got drunk and disorderly in Mayberry, then the record of that offense pretty much stayed in Mayberry. If he turned his life around, kept his nose clean for a few years and moved to Richmond, then no one would ever know what happened back in Mayberry. And Otis could get on with his life. There are plenty of people (some in my family) who had minor offenses that ultimately got forgotten that way.
Nowadays, everything lasts forever. Did you get a little drunk and stupid when you were 18? Well....thats on you. Forever. There’s no redemption and no grace. Thats why I see the merit in some cases.
there WILL be lawsuits when people die.
I’ve never been arrested.
Oddly enough, I’ve never found it tough to avoid it.
Congratulations on being perfect.
There have been many, many great men in the history of our country who were not perfect. Who got arrested at some point in their lives. And went on to do great things.
Methinks they have a carve out for MAGA types somewhere in the fine print ....
When the manager of an apartment complex lets a LIFE TIME SEX OFFENDER into the apartments-—
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?????
I never said I was perfect.
Just never a perp.
The former is impossible, but the second is easy.
Seriously. You know perfectly well those are not the cases people are concerned about because of this law.
“I probably would not have signed it, but I can see the merits if executed correctly.”
Government never, ever executes anything correctly.
Ever.
L
I posted a link to the text of the bill above.
They didn’t.
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