New York Employers: The New York Clean Slate Act went into effect on November 16, 2024.
Under the new law, certain criminal conviction records will be sealed to allow people to have better access to jobs, with exceptions for law enforcement and work with vulnerable populations. Convictions including sex crimes and Class A felonies that are not drug-related, including murder, will not be eligible for record sealing.
For a misdemeanor, records will be sealed three years after conviction or release from jail. For a felony, records will be sealed eight years after conviction or release from prison. Individuals must maintain a clean record and be no longer on probation or parole in order to qualify for record sealing.
In addition, under the Act, every entity that receives criminal history information must provide a copy of the report to the individual with Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law and inform the individual of their “right to seek correction of any incorrect information contained in [the report] pursuant to the regulations and procedures established by the Division of Criminal Justice Services.”
We will update you if more guidance is issued.