A local lawyer explains the specifics of the recently passed Clean Slate Law in New York

Rochester, New York – New York’s Clean Slate Law went into force on Saturday, according to a local lawyer.

According to the Clean Slate Initiative, New York is currently one of 12 states in the US with “clean slate laws,”

As long as they have remained out of the court system, New Yorkers with criminal convictions will have their records sealed under the new rule.

They will first have to wait eight years for some felonies and three years for misdemeanor convictions.

According to Analiese Vasciannie, a lawyer with Legal Assistance of Western New York, “it’s actually illegal in New York State to discriminate against someone with a criminal record.” “They are considered a protected class under our human rights law.”

Vasciannie’s area of expertise is “re-entry,” or helping people navigate life after jail through the legal system.

She clarified that the new law had certain restrictions.

“If someone is convicted of a sex offense or a Class A felony, such as murder, those won’t be sealed,” Vasciannie added. Additionally, there are some situations in which a person’s records may still be pulled if they are applying for a gun or if they are required to undergo a background check by specific businesses that work with vulnerable groups, such as children or the elderly. As long as it’s not a sexual offense and falls below the threshold for a Class B felony, it can be sealed.

Similar legislation has recently been passed by states like Pennsylvania, Utah, Connecticut, and New Jersey, although the “clean slates” were not without controversy.

In the New York State Legislature, a number of lawmakers voted against the bill. With 37 yes votes and 25 no votes, the state senate finally voted in favor of it.

After Governor Hochul signed the bill into law last year, 139th district Republican assemblyman Steve Hawley referred to it as “a free pass for criminals.”

“We live in a nation where those who are harmed by these crimes are marginalized and criminals are treated like victims,” Hawley said. “We cannot afford to take chances with public safety. We must go back to a society that upholds the rule of law and makes offenders answerable for their crimes.

“The Clean Slate Act will play a critical role in helping New Yorkers find jobs, housing, and educational opportunities as we work to improve public safety and expand economic opportunity for everyone,” Governor Hochul said on Saturday in his appreciation of the new law. People who have made amends to society avoided contact with the criminal justice system, and are seeking a new beginning will start to reap the benefits of this historic law today.