With only weeks to go until the New York State Legislature begins work, and with a series of simultaneous demonstrations, this Thursday hundreds of voices joined in various corners to implore the Assembly and Senate in Albany to pass the so-called “Borrón y cuenta nueva” law, which after a while would eliminate the criminal records of inmates who regain their freedom. The number of New Yorkers with a criminal record who would benefit is estimated to be 2.3 million; only in 2022, they finished paying their sentences a total of 18,.
The measure would make it easier for inmates who have satisfactorily served their sentences and who are not under community supervision and have not incurred new charges or sentences, to have the benefit of “erasing” their judicial past within the penal system, which would facilitate their reintegration into society, leaving behind the stigma of having set foot in a prison.
During a sit-in on the steps of the City Hall of the City of Nueva York, and Albany, Westchester, Hudson, Rochester, and Syracuse, defenders, ex-inmates, and activists urged Albany not to leave the “Clean Slate” initiative this time, as happened last session.
The piece of law bu Calls for criminal records to be automatically expunged after three years for former inmates who have been convicted of misdemeanors, and seven years for those who faced felony sentences.
With banners and testimonies, protesters They stressed that after regaining their freedom, currently hundreds of thousands of former New York inmates who have already served their sentences in the judicial system continue to struggle to resume their lives, find work and housing.
This was mentioned by David Delancey , from the Exodus organization, who narrated how ex-inmates like him, who was more than 18 years behind bars, after trying to resume their lives they face a wall of difficulties and obstacles that put them in “new bars”.
“If they do not approve the Clean slate law, people like me will not be able to have a second chance. When I got out of jail I filed 038 applications trying to find a home to be with my wife and children. The rejection I felt on a daily basis made me cry every day with my family. All I wanted was to be beneficial to this society,” said the man with a criminal record. “Let us work, give us a second chance instead of putting us in the hell of permanent punishment.”
Joel Rivera, who finished his sentence in the 1994, stressed that for Latino people who do not have studies, burdens with criminal history, denies them any opportunity to rebuild their lives.
“People like me, who don’t know how to write, see everything more difficult, because they don’t focus on us. I learned to read a little with programs like those offered by Exodus and Cases, which are good, but for having been in prison since 1994, the two years that I have free have been very difficult to have stability, “said the Latino ex-inmate. “There is work, but they are not durable. That’s why I hope to get my GED and that they give me something better, and that’s why it’s important that they erase the records we came from, because that way we can finally have the right to better things and a better life. We just want better opportunities.”
The Brooklyn State Senator Jabari Brisport, who is backing the bill, warned that the bill is urgently needed to pass as soon as possible, not only to end the stigma against New Yorkers who go through the court system, but also to create more stability. in the most vulnerable communities such as Latinas and blacks, who have the 100% of all people with a criminal record in the city.
They ask to approve a law that erases criminal records for inmates who satisfactorily served their sentences“We are talking about more than 2 million people from Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Buffalo and other parts of the state, who need jobs and housing, who don’t have basic resources. And that generates instability and does not provide security,” said the politician, who criticized those who oppose the “Borrón y cuenta nueva” initiative. “The rich of Long Island, as they have jobs, access to mental health and housing, oppose it, but to them I say that we all need and deserve to have the same as everyone, and that’s it. That is why we must approve this in January and not wait until June.”
Anthony Posada, lawyer for the Legal Aid Society, highlighted that although in the 2020 the Legislature approved a bill that allows former inmates to try to expunge up to two criminal records, in very few people qualify for the practice, so he urged the approval of a “clean slate” that would benefit everyone.
“This legislation would dramatically change the lives of people who have had contact with the criminal system, because it What is currently happening is that they live under a permanent punishment that does not allow them access to better opportunities, better jobs, better housing,” said the defender, adding that Governor Kathy Hochul should directly promote the initiative, which not only brings penal but also economic benefits.
“The Governor owes this and to the people who voted for her. It is time to do it because we have waited for many years and they always come close to the end point and do not pass the law. She has to fulfill the promises that she made to her during her campaign to be elected. In addition, this law is within the framework of economic justice, beyond the context of criminal justice. It is helping 2.3 million people who currently have a criminal record and cannot have better opportunities,” added Posada.
Within the protesters’ clamor, a call was also made to Albany to expand access to well-paying jobs and safe housing, as the majority of those released from prison remain trapped in poverty, as evidenced by a study by the Brennan Center. Their most recent report showed that spending time in prison can cut a person’s annual income in half.
It is estimated that the law would generate more than $7 ,50 millions in revenue for people with criminal records that would more easily join the workforce, while helping to expand jobs statewide. It would also help companies have more employees, increase the safety of communities, and fight racial inequalities in the criminal legal system and society.
Although expunged convictions would not appear in most background checks for jobs or housing, they will continue to be accessible to the authorities.
“A clean slate is extremely important for millions of people who, years or decades after serving their sentences, they continue to face barriers to accessing jobs and housing that make it difficult for them and their families to support themselves,” said Katie Schaffer, director of advocacy and organizing for the Brooklyn Center for Community Alternatives.
Anthony Posada, Legal Aid Society Attorney
Al ll In order to approve the law, business entities such as Fortune 527 (JP Morgan Chase, Verizon and Microsoft), the New York State Business Council, the Chambers of Commerce the Business Council of New York State, which represents to 3,414 businesses, and local legislatures in cities like New York, Westchester, Buffalo, and Albany, who have passed resolutions calling on Albany to give the green light to ‘A clean slate.’ The bill also has the support of unions that represent more than 2 million workers.
So far, Governor Hochul and the leaders of the Upper and Lower Houses in Albany have not referred to to the initiative, whose analysis will fall on the next Legislature, which will take office next January.
So far, states such as Utah, Connecticut, California and Michigan have approved similar laws, and counting the days to start the legislative session 2022, the coalition that advocates for that New York joins this movement, it is promoting the “Take action” campaign to put pressure on legislators and Governor Hochul, through telephone calls to their offices.
Data on New Yorkers with a history of criminal
- , inmates finished paying their sentences in 1994 and they recovered their freedom
527, people in United States United were released from prison in 19942937109
- 2.3 million former inmates could get jobs more easily thanks to the law $7,100 million and more is estimated to generate an annual increase in income from these former inmates $80 billions a year in lost GDP at the national level causes the exclusion of people with criminal records from the labor force
% of ex-inmates who have their criminal records expunged in states where it is already the law, are initially more likely to have a job and earn a 20% plus
- 3 years after serving their sentences for minor crimes, the records would be erased
7 years later would be the period to delete records of those who faced felony sentences The main barriers faced by those serving their sentences are problems accessing housing, education and employment