Media hits

A town hall meeting was hosted to spotlight proposed “Clean Slate” legislation, which would simplify how eligible individuals can have past records expunged. The gathering featured advocates, community members, and individuals who described barriers they faced due to lingering records. Organizers emphasized the need for an automated expungement system to reduce costs, legal complexity, and delays. Attendees were encouraged to engage with legislators and help raise momentum for passing the bill.

Connecticut's Clean Slate program, established in 2021, is progressing toward clearing up to 125,000 eligible records by mid-November 2025, following the resolution of technical delays. The initiative aims to automatically expunge certain misdemeanor and low-level felony convictions, enhancing access to employment, housing, and education for individuals who have completed their sentences. Advocates, including those from Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT), have been instrumental in pushing for the program's implementation, highlighting its potential to provide second chances and reduce barriers for individuals seeking to reintegrate into society.

Connecticut has restarted its Clean Slate Law, erasing 71,000 eligible records after a two-year delay due to outdated technology. The state aims to clear the remaining backlog by the end of the month, providing individuals with greater opportunities for employment, housing, and education.

Connecticut has resumed its automatic record erasure program under the Clean Slate law, wiping around 50,000 eligible records so far and aiming to process over 100,000 more in the near term. The law, passed in 2021, calls for automatic erasures of older, low-level convictions after a set waiting period (seven years for misdemeanors, ten for certain felonies) — though serious offenses like sex crimes and domestic violence are excluded. Implementation was delayed by outdated IT systems and data issues, but recent upgrades and outside contractor support have enabled the state to move forward.

Connecticut has restarted automatic record erasures under its Clean Slate law after delays caused by outdated technology, with about 50,000 records already cleared and plans to process more than 100,000 soon. The 2021 law is designed to remove barriers to employment, housing, and education for people with old or low-level records. While advocates say the delay was frustrating, many view the restart as an important step toward fulfilling the law’s promise.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers are expanding a program to automatically expunge records for certain minor drug offenses—such as low-level marijuana charges or excessive purchases of over-the-counter medications—to help improve people’s economic and social standing.

The recent arrest of a Michigan councilman has prompted some national media outlets to target the state’s Clean Slate law. This opinion piece responds to the coverage.

Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law achieves its 2025 goal by eliminating auto-sealing backlog, marking a milestone in automated criminal record clearance and second-chance reform.

A bipartisan federal proposal by Senators Van Hollen and Blunt Rochester, the Fresh Start Act of 2025 offers grant funding to help states automate expunging or sealing eligible criminal records.

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