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Updates from CSI
Check out the latest updates about Clean Slate, partner efforts, recent events, and more.
Clean Slate in Connecticut: Implementation and Sustained Momentum
More than 150,000 people have benefitted from Connecticut’s Clean Slate law that went into effect three years ago. Learn more about Connecticut's implementation milestone in this guest update from Rev. Dr. Philippe E. C. Andal, CONECT.
Clean Slate Campaign Launches in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has launched their Clean Slate campaign and introduced legislation to automate record sealing and expand access to second chances. Learn more in this update from Mo George, Campaign Strategist.
Black History Month and the Power of Clean Slate
Clean Slate builds on decades of leadership from Black advocates, organizers, and movements that pushed this country to confront inequity in policing, sentencing, employment, housing, and opportunity. Learn more in this update from Dr. Sheena Meade, CEO.
States of Clean Slate: End of Year Wrap Up
In 2025, Clean Slate campaigns turned momentum into measurable change. With new laws passed, systems improved, and implementation advancing across the country, more than 18 million people are now closer to freedom from the lifelong barriers of a record.
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Eight Surprising Ways Second Chances Change Lives
Clean Slate policies don’t just remove obstacles; they open doors to dignity, stability, and opportunity in ways many people don’t expect. Learn more in this contributed piece from Pastor Mike McBride, Live Free USA, and Cynthia Simons, Tomorrow's Promise Foundation.
New Research Sheds Light on How Arrest and Conviction Records Harm Families
An old arrest or conviction record doesn’t just impact the person who has it; it can entirely reshape family life — known as symbiotic harms. New research funded by The Clean Slate Initiative explores that ripple effect. Learn more in this update from Dr. Laura Chavez, CSI; Ericka B. Adams, San José State University; Elsa Y. Chen, Santa Clara University; and Sarah E. Lageson, Northeastern University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and School of Law.
Advocacy Spotlight: Driving Support for Federal Clean Slate with a Week of Action
The Clean Slate Initiative's first-ever Clean Slate Week of Action elevated our federal priorities and demonstrated the profound power of federal Clean Slate support. Learn more in this update from Reginald Darby, Federal Legislative Director.
Five Simple Mistakes That Could Turn into a Lifetime of Punishment
Most people think of an arrest or conviction record as the result of serious crimes — but in reality, even small, everyday mistakes can snowball into lifelong punishment. Learn more in this collaborative contribution from Erik Altieri, CSI, and Heather Canuel, a Directly Impacted organizer.
Insight: New York’s Clean Slate Act
Advocates and legislators built broad support for Clean Slate in New York by balancing bold reform goals with practical compromise. Their success offers valuable lessons for advancing Clean Slate policies in other states. Learn more in this analysis from The Brennan Center for Justice's Ames Grawert and Hernandez D. Stroud.
From Service to Second Chances: A Veteran's Reflection
A veteran reflects on service, loss, recovery, and redemption — sharing how a second chance helped him rebuild his life and rediscover purpose, and how Clean Slate helped him thrive. Read more in this guest contribution from Richard Flanagan.
Three Ways Clean Slate Could Save States Money & Resources
When states invest in Clean Slate policies, they’re not just expanding opportunity — they’re potentially saving money and resources. Learn more in this collaborative contribution from John S. Cooper, Safe & Just Michigan, and Katie Svoboda-Kindle, CSI.
Opening Doors for Millions: Illinois Becomes the 13th Clean Slate State
Illinois lawmakers have passed the Clean Slate Act (HB 1836), making Illinois the 13th Clean Slate state, plus Washington D.C.! Learn more in this update from Caitlin Dunklee, Campaign Strategist.
