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Research-Led Efforts to Change the Narrative Around People with Arrest and Conviction Records
Public understanding shapes how Clean Slate policies are considered, adopted, and sustained. Stigma and misinformation about people with arrest and conviction records can limit support for reforms, even when the policy itself is strong.
This campaign focuses on changing that.
Why Narrative Change Matters
Data and policy design are critical, but how an issue is understood shapes whether evidence is heard at all. Narratives — the shared beliefs, values, and assumptions people use to make sense of an issue – shape public discourse, media coverage, and decision-making across systems.
When prevailing narratives are narrow or biased, they limit how evidence is interpreted and what solutions feel possible, even when the policy is sound.
For The Clean Slate Initiative, Narrative Change is Not Optional.
Policies cannot move forward if public understanding is rooted in stigma or misinformation. Record sealing removes old records from routine background checks, allowing people to access jobs, housing, and education without being permanently punished for past mistakes.
Our Approach: Heartwired Narrative Change
The graphic above is adapted from GSSR.
CSI partnered with Goodwin Simon Strategic Research (GSSR) on a two-year narrative research project using a Heartwired approach, recognizing that people engage first through values, emotion, and trust before facts or policy details.
To understand how to build that trust and shift public perception, we explored:
How different audiences understand arrest and conviction records;
Which language and frames increase understanding or reinforce stigma; and
Who is most credible in advancing Clean Slate narratives and why.
This work helped shift the foundation of Clean Slate messaging from explaining policy to fostering human understanding.
Campaign Timeline
Impact Focus
We're rolling out our narrative research findings in 9 Southeastern states where Clean Slate has not yet passed: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
Adults
Women
Clean Slate Storytellers
The Clean Slate Storyteller series showcases real-life people across the country who have, or had, an arrest or conviction record. Hearing first-hand experiences is one of the most impactful ways we can understand and build support for Clean Slate.
For the Record: A Clean Slate Public Service Announcement
CSI produces public-facing narrative assets designed to reach broad audiences. The "For The Record" PSA is an award-winning example of how research-informed storytelling can support greater understanding of Clean Slate.
CSI shares ongoing insights about narrative change through short-form analysis that translates research into practical guidance. Featured posts below show how narrative change plays out in real media, policy, and everyday conversations.
Additional guides and tools will be added in 2026.
Words Matter: A Call for Responsible Dialogue During the Presidential Race
Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, addresses campaign strategists, the media, and the general public in an open letter, urging careful consideration of the language used in the final few months of the presidential race.
Finding Common Ground: How to Talk About Clean Slate During the Holidays
How can we bring conversations about Clean Slate to life in a way that resonates with family and friends? It’s all about connection and shared values. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.
Reframing the Picture: The Power of Imagery in Second Chance Stories
Too often, media coverage, blog posts, and social media posts about legal system reform are accompanied by harmful, stereotypical imagery, reducing people to the moment of their worst mistake. We have a responsibility to make sure we're not silently reinforcing those stereotypes in our storytelling. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.
Support Clean Slate
Your voice and action matter. Share your story to amplify the importance of second chances, or make a donation to help expand access to automated record sealing and opportunity for millions.
