Your Fresh Start: Understanding the Clean Slate Movement

A criminal record should not be a life sentence to poverty and limited opportunity. That is the core principle of the Clean Slate movement, a national, bipartisan effort focused on passing laws that automatically seal or expunge eligible criminal records after a person has remained crime-free for a certain period. These laws are critical for removing unnecessary barriers to employment, housing, and education for millions of people.

We are proud to highlight the 12 states and Washington, D.C., that have passed these transformative, automated Clean Slate policies, paving the way for a true second chance.

Clean Slate Laws: The Path to Automatic Record Clearing

Here is an overview of the jurisdictions leading the way in automated record relief. Click the resources below to find official information and next steps on the process of cleaning your record in each state.

Jurisdiction : Clean Slate Law Overview State Resource & Next Steps

Pennsylvania (PA)Passed the first-in-the-nation Clean Slate law (2018). Provides automatic sealing for summary, most misdemeanor, and certain lower-level felony convictions after specified crime-free waiting periods (5-10 years)

Utah (UT)Implemented automatic record expungement (2022). Automatically expunges qualifying lower-level offenses, including most Class B and C misdemeanors and infractions, after a waiting period (5-7 years).

New Jersey (NJ)The Clean Slate Act (2019) allows for the expungement of an entire record of arrests and convictions 10 years after the last conviction or release, for most offenses. Automation is currently under development.

Michigan (MI)Provides for the automatic set-aside (expungement) of up to an unlimited number of misdemeanors (7 years) and up to two eligible felonies (10 years) after the waiting period.

Connecticut (CT)The Clean Slate Law (2020) provides for the automatic erasure of most misdemeanor and low-level felony convictions 7 years after the date of the most recent conviction, provided all sentences are complete

Delaware (DE)The Clean Slate Act (2021) established a process for automatically expunging records that qualify for mandatory expungement, which takes effect in 2024

.Virginia (VA)Passed record-sealing laws (2021) that will begin automatic sealing of certain non-convictions, misdemeanors, and some felony convictions starting in October 2026.

California (CA)Passed laws (2022) expanding automatic record clearance for non-felony arrests and certain convictions, primarily non-violent, non-serious offenses.

Colorado (CO)The Clean Slate Act (2022) provides for automatic sealing of non-conviction records after one year, and certain conviction records after a specified time, eliminating the need for a petition.

Washington, D.C. (DC)The Second Chance Amendment Act (2022) provides for both petition-based and automatic sealing/expungement of eligible records, including decriminalized and legalized offenses.

Minnesota (MN)The Clean Slate Act of 2023 will automate expungement for many misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and low-level felony offenses after a crime-free waiting period (e.g., 3 years for misdemeanors).

New York (NY)The Clean Slate Act (2023, effective Nov 2024) will automatically seal most misdemeanors (3 years) and eligible felonies (8 years) after a crime-free waiting period. Full automation expected by Nov 2027

Oklahoma (OK)The 2022 law established an automatic expungement process for certain nonviolent misdemeanor records, significantly simplifying the clearance process for thousands of residents.

Take Action Today!

The implementation of these laws means that if you have served your time and lived crime-free, you may already be eligible for a fresh start without ever having to step foot in a courtroom.

Don't let a past mistake hold you back from a promising future.

Join our community for more information and resources for a fresh start today.