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Republicans in the Senate and Assembly have railed against Clean Slate and other proposed criminal justice reforms several times this session, but with heightened frequency and alarm over the last two weeks.Īssembly Minority Leader William Barclay, R-Pulaski, and Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, each have pointed to the exponential increase in violent crime, including burglaries, shootings and homicides, in cities across the state. This has been referred to as something to save the world because it can.” “It’s that one-third that is preventing us from removing our paper cuffs. “Two-thirds agrees, but that one-third that doesn’t … those are the ones who block our opportunities,” Forbes continued. “I am a person who, at 26 years old, am still persecuted by my actions of when I was 15 years old,” he said.Ĭlearing his records would require knowledge of the legal system and money he doesn’t have. Forbes, now 26, said his previous criminal record continues to impact his opportunities. Lukee Forbes, of Albany, was convicted of a crime at the age of 15, or as a juvenile offender. Lawmakers cited a new poll Tuesday that reports two-thirds of state residents support the measure. Jabari Brisport, some of the Legislature’s leading progressive members, were in attendance and spoke in favor of passing Clean Slate. Take these handcuffs off.”Īssembly members Demond Meeks, Anna Kelles, Chris Burdick and Jessica Gonzlez-Rojas and Sen. “I have these handcuffs on,” he added of the figurative chains, holding out his wrists.
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I learned how to do all those things because I wanted to come home here and be a different person. It angers me because I committed a crime, I did my time, now let me do what I learned how to do. … I don’t have metal handcuffs, I have paper handcuffs. “I can’t change that,” Pierce said of his past, “but I want to work and I have a lot to give. Pierce spent 21 years in prison and was trained to do electrical work and general maintenance. Gregory Pierce, a member of the group Center for Community Alternatives, recounted how, at age 71, his criminal convictions from decades ago continue to prevent him from securing employment. “Let’s just get this bill passed.”Ĭlean Slate is estimated to seal the criminal records of 2.3 million New Yorkers.ĭozens of advocates have demonstrated in front of the state Capitol in the last two weeks to push lawmakers to pass the bill before Thursday’s scheduled end of legislative session.Īctivists and progressive Democratic lawmakers rallied in West Capitol Park on Tuesday to make one final push for the bill’s passage. Now it’s time to get the bill across the finish line.”Įpstein is focusing on passing the current Clean Slate measure before pushing for another bill to expunge residents’ criminal records. We are incredibly proud of our communities and supporters for generating the momentum necessary to bring the Clean Slate Act to this point. “While our work will continue after this legislative session, I know personally the difference that the automatic, inclusive sealing of records will make to New Yorkers across the state. “This two-way agreement is a testament to the powerful advocacy by impacted people and organizers across the state,” Agnew said in a statement Tuesday. Melissa Agnew, community leader with Center for Community Alternatives and member of the Clean Slate NY campaign, said the measure will powerfully change the lives of countless New Yorkers to obtain employment and housing, regardless of legislation changes. “It’s not an expungement, but it gets you about 80 percent of the way there.” “It is basically a clean slate,” the assemblyman continued. Officials in the criminal justice system, such as judges, district attorneys and police, will continue to have access to sealed criminal documents. New Yorkers with sealed criminal records do not have to mark on a job or housing application that they have been convicted of a crime, Epstein said. Those are changes that make a lot of sense because you have to be able to meet your partners when you’re negotiating.” “Everything is in negotiation, but I think we’re in a good place. “I think we’ve been negotiating on a time frame for felonies and misdemeanors,” said Epstein, who co-sponsors the measure. Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, D-Manhattan, said the changes are reasonable to get the bill passed.