by Contributor | June 8, 2023 12:11 pm
ALBANY, NY – Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski) joined representatives from law enforcement and his colleagues in the Republican Conference to voice their opposition to Democrats’ “Clean Slate Act,” the latest policy proposal in their pro-criminal agenda. In the final days of the legislative session, Democrats in the Legislature have prioritized a more dangerous criminal justice system over public safety, affordability and the state’s outmigration.
“There’s no end to Democrats’ pro-criminal policymaking. Second chances are important, but people have the right to make informed decisions. There are any number of occupations where a background check is essential: in personal care settings, jobs that require interacting with children, positions handling finances,” Leader Barclay said. “But once again, Democrats choose to support hiding criminal histories, eliminating personal accountability and pretending crimes never happened. Clean Slate would be another victory for criminals, and another loss for public safety in New York.”
The “Clean Slate Act” will be voted on in the Assembly Codes Committee today. The bill would allow individuals to automatically have their records sealed after a specific time period has ended. For certain misdemeanors and the traffic infraction DWAI (driving while ability impaired), criminal records would be sealed after three years. For most felonies, records would be sealed after eight years. Sealing criminal records would eliminate the ability for prospective employers, landlords or other entities to conduct a full background check that includes an individual’s criminal history.
“A clean slate for criminals without considering public safety or the impact on victims is reckless,” said Washington County District Attorney J. Anthony Jordan, President, District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. “We hope to continue to work with the Legislature and the governor to expand the benefit of second chances for those convicted of crimes. However, careful thought, planning and financial investment are needed in order to accomplish the complicated processes involved when massive quantities of criminal records are set aside. All of the competing interests must be carefully balanced without jeopardizing the expectation of safety that our residents, businesses and visitors deserve and expect.”
Albany County District Attorney David Soares said, “If rumors concerning the state Legislature’s passage of New York’s Clean Slate Bill (which is in no way related to Albany County’s Clean Slate Program) are true, we will have made New York the very first state where criminals will have more professional privacy protections in place than the police whose employment history has to be disclosed to defendants they arrest.”
“More thought needs to be put into any law that buries criminal records in our state. Employers deserve to know who they choose to hire and trust to work in their businesses. Landlords deserve to know who may be living under their roofs among their families,” said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. “New York State already has a generous sealing law, enacted in 2017, that requires judicial approval before criminal records are set aside. Automating the process and requiring mandatory sealing of records for crimes such as vehicular homicide, burglary, robbery and animal cruelty would remove any oversight or input from crime victims, judges and prosecutors.”
“New York state has procedures for individuals to obtain certificates of good conduct, certificates of relief from civil disability and expungement of records,” Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (R,C-Niagara Falls) said. “Individuals need to be responsible for the consequences of their actions, therefore, they should take their future into their own hands, recognize their obligations and apply for relief. We need to not perform all functions for individuals, we need for them to take positive steps forward to ensure their futures.”
“This is simply an attempt to mislead potential employers, landlords and the general public about a person’s history. When a defendant is in court and decides to either plea bargain their case or take their case to trial, they do so with the understanding that the charge will appear on the person’s record. Additionally, there are already mechanisms available that a defendant can apply for which could potentially remove any mandatory legal bar or disability imposed as a result of conviction of a crime. Nevertheless, employers and landlords have the right to know about a person’s history before hiring them or renting to them. This bill will ensure that they will not be able to make an informed decision,” said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R,C-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
“Recognizing and accepting the consequences of one’s actions is something we as individuals, and as a society, must live with. Accountability is taking responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions and a criminal record is one such consequence for a person who decided to commit a criminal act,” Assemblyman John McGowan (R,C-Rockland) said. “While people should be able to move forward from past mistakes and, in certain situations, should not be defined by a prior act, the proposed Clean Slate legislation simply goes too far by grossly expanding the eligible offenses that would allow a criminal defendant legally convicted of a crime to seal his or her criminal record. Further, this law would allow automatic sealing after the mere passage of time, thus removing the sensible step of having a judge review a defendant’s application—a concerning and continuing trend in New York of legislating away the power of the judiciary. Governing requires balancing competing interests. But like the failed bail reform laws, this again goes too far and puts the interests of criminals ahead of the concerns and safety of employers, co-workers and residents in New York.”
Jennifer Harrison, Founder of Victims Rights NY said, “Victims Rights NY represents around 1,000 families of homicide victims across New York and more across the country. Victims Rights NY, Long Island NY Metro Area Parents of Murder Victims and The Victims Rights Reform Council all vehemently oppose Clean Slate, Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole. Our loved ones and our families were robbed of any second chances when the criminals advocated for in this legislation intentionally took the lives of another human being. Imagine being told that first your violent attacker or person that killed your child was being released, and now that person can pretend it never even happened while you, the innocent casualty, have to suffer a life sentence of pain, trauma and grief. There are much simpler, common-sense alternatives like expanding the expungement process through public defender offices, for example, so that those truly deserving of a second chance are provided with the resources and opportunity to get one. Pro-criminal, anti-victim “reforms” are unsustainable and deadly. To pass more would epitomize insanity.”
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/politics/barclay-opinion/assembly-republicans-keep-clean-slate-act-off-albanys-end-of-session-to-do-list/
Copyright ©2026 Oswego County Today unless otherwise noted.