Criminal justice reform advocates are pleased that Governor Hochul's proposed budget includes so-called "Clean Slate" legislation, but some say the proposals don't go far enough.
The activists favor legislation that would automatically seal a New Yorker’s conviction record as soon as a sentence is completed. The governor believes seven years should lapse before a felony record is sealed. It would take three years to seal a misdemeanor record. Supporters of Clean Slate say it will allow people to rebuild their lives with stable jobs and secure housing.