Americans place a strong emphasis on the idea of second chances. We value the concept that with hard work and perseverance, people can overcome their mistakes and achieve success.
The idea is reflected in our celebration of rags-to-riches stories, as well as the concept of rehabilitation in the criminal-justice system.
We support the Clean Slate Act that is under consideration in the state Legislature this session, because it will offer people with a criminal conviction a second chance. For individuals, it would open up opportunities for stable employment, licenses to practice trades and decent housing. A larger labor pool would help employers hire for any number of jobs that aren’t always easy to fill.
The legislation would automatically seal a New Yorker’s conviction record once the individual became eligible. Eligibility would include completing a three-year waiting period for misdemeanor convictions and a seven-year waiting period for felony convictions, not counting time served in prison. The individual would be required to complete probation or parole and not have pending charges in New York. Sex offenses would not be eligible.
There is a long list of organizations that support the Clean Slate Act in New York, including organized labor, recovery groups, faith organizations, and racial and economic justice advocates. A number of business organizations back the bill as well: chambers of commerce in Brooklyn, Harlem, Rochester and Westchester, the Business Council of New York State, Verizon, Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase.
In fact, Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan, published an op-ed in favor of the legislation in August 2021 in The New York Times. He noted that more than 70 million people have some type of arrest or criminal record, roughly equal to the number of Americans who have college degrees. One year after leaving prison, nearly half were unemployed.
“That is a moral outrage,” Dimon wrote. “This group is ready to work and deserves a second chance—an opportunity to fill the millions of job openings across the country.”
One study found that from 25 million to 30 million Americans with an arrest or conviction record are eligible to expunge or seal their records but have not done so. That comes from a lack of information about the process, the cost and the complexity. Automatic record clearing could streamline the process and boost employment.
The Clean Slate Act would not limit background checks for law enforcement, prosecutors or the courts. For many types of jobs—police officer, teacher, Uber or Lyft driver—background checks would still reveal the past criminal record. The same would apply to applications for a gun license.
Second chances offer people the dignity of being able to support themselves. We hope the Legislature will agree.
Source: crainsnewyork.com
