But the bill sponsors haven’t considered the risk when it comes to murder, robbery, kidnapping, arson, assault, hate crimes, domestic violence crimes, drunk-or-drugged driving or gun offenses that would automatically be sealed and then destroyed. Clean-slate bill sponsors agree and don’t want to allow sex offenders to benefit from automatically erased criminal records. Some crimes pose a greater risk to public safety. The law was amended to allow bail for crimes such as home burglaries, crimes that cause death and other serious crimes.Īll offenses shouldn’t be treated the same. Lawmakers in Albany should remember lessons learned from bail “reform.” Soon after the state’s new bail laws went into effect, legislators realized that those accused of some crimes pose a risk to public safety or might not return to court and should be considered for bail. Is that what lawmakers really want? This also illogically means that some criminal records could be sealed before someone completes his prison sentence. Typically, “expungement” means records are completely destroyed and not available to law enforcement, prosecutors or courts. After five years, most misdemeanors would be automatically expunged, and after seven, many felonies. The legislation would automatically seal criminal records for a sweeping list of crimes - after one year for misdemeanors and three years for felonies.
Sadly, the clean-slate proposal pending isn’t such a law. Prosecutors support second chances, and many lives in the Empire State would be transformed by a carefully thought-out clean-slate law that expands the universe of convictions that can be sealed. New York already has a sealing statute, enacted in 2017 with support from state prosecutors, who remain committed to helping people navigate the process of sealing past convictions. A past criminal history can be a barrier to getting back on your feet, even after remaining crime-free for decades. Second chances allow those with criminal histories to seek jobs, housing and educational opportunities. Many states have so-called clean-slate laws. New York prison population plummets 26.9% from 2019 to 2022: report David Paterson rips bill to seal criminal records Kids need dads and more: Letters to the Editor - June 25, 2023Įx-Gov. Albany’s latest ‘wrongful’ bill will mean MORE crime
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