The Clean Slate Act (CPL 160.57) is a state law passed in
New York State
New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...
in the
United States of America
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...
that will automatically seal an individual's New York State criminal records after three years for a
misdemeanor
A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour elsewhere) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than admi ...
and eight years for a
felony
A felony is traditionally considered a crime of high seriousness, whereas a misdemeanor is regarded as less serious. The term "felony" originated from English common law (from the French medieval word "''félonie''") to describe an offense that r ...
. The law does not apply to some offenses.
The law went into effect on November 16, 2024.
In response to the law, the Judicial Process Commission stated "The passing of the Clean Slate Act, which aims to eradicate perpetual punishment, is a great win for those impacted by the criminal justice system."
The
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.
The Ass ...
stated that "The Clean Slate Act (A.1029-C) automatically seals certain criminal records to give more New Yorkers a second chance, reduce recidivism and contribute to their communities."
References
{{reflist
New York (state) statutes