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Updates from CSI
Check out the latest updates about Clean Slate, partner efforts, recent events, and more.
Connecticut Keeps Its Promise: Clean Slate Automated Erasures Move Forward
After years of delay, Connecticut’s Clean Slate automated record erasures are finally moving forward. Learn more in this update from Katie Svoboda-Kindle, Implementation Director.
New Research Shows Automated Sealing for Non-Conviction Records Works — With Room for Improvement
A new study published in the North Carolina Law Review — funded by The Clean Slate Initiative and led by Professor Colleen Chien of UC Berkeley — is the first large-scale look at how well those automated systems are working to remove barriers for people with non-conviction records. Learn more in this update from Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data.
Five Reasons Second Chance Policies Benefit Public Safety
Communities are safer when people have jobs, stable families, and a real chance to rebuild after a past mistake. Learn more about the benefits of second chances for keeping America safe in this guest contribution from Justin Magnuson, Justice Reform Foundation, and Jason Pye, Due Process Institute.
Clean Slate at CBCF ALC 2025: From Policy to Celebration
CSI was proud to host two powerful events during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2025 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) in Washington, D.C. Learn more in this update from Reginald Darby, Federal Legislative Director.
From Legislation to Action: How CSI Supports Clean Slate Implementation
For Clean Slate to change lives, the policies must be implemented effectively so that people with eligible records actually receive the relief the law promises. Learn more about CSI's Clean Slate implementation program in this update from Katie Svoboda-Kindle, Implementation Director.
Breaking New Ground: Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law Spotlights Clean Slate Research
The Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law published a special Summer 2025 issue featuring several important academic articles on Clean Slate policies, including one by The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI) and two by researchers funded by CSI. Learn more in this update from Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research & Data.
New Research: How Clean Slate Won in Pennsylvania and Utah — and What Other States Can Learn
A new study recently published in Criminology and Public Policy examines how Pennsylvania and Utah became the first states to pass Clean Slate laws — and outlines lessons learned for other states. Learn more in this update from Dr. Laura Chavez, Elsa Chen, Sarah Lageson, and Ericka Adams.
Lessons from CSI’s 2025 Convening
Jerika White, Community Justice Manager at Empower Missouri, joined CSI's 2025 convening in Chicago in June as a first-time attendee. Learn more about her experience at the event in this guest update.
New Research: Engaging Directly Impacted Populations in Research Online
When using digital tools to find participants, how can researchers be sure they’re reaching the right people, and doing so in a way that’s cost-effective, efficient, and ethical? New research dives in. Learn more in this co-authored update from Dr. Laura Chavez, Sarah Lageson, Carolina R. Caliman, Elsa Chen, and Ericka Adams.
Steps Ahead for Second Chances: How D.C.’s Clean Slate Law Is Shaping a Better Future
In 2022, thanks to the tireless efforts of local advocates like DC Justice Lab, D.C. passed a Clean Slate law, the Second Chance Amendment Act, that provides petition based and automated sealing of eligible arrest and conviction records. The law marks a critical turning point in the fight for second chances in The District. Learn more in this guest update from Nye Winslow, Policy Counsel at DC Justice Lab.
Raising the Bar on Work Should Also Mean Clearing the Path to It
If we’re going to require that people have jobs in order to access basic healthcare, we must also remove unnecessary obstacles standing in the way of those jobs. Learn more in this update from Dr. Sheena Meade, CEO.
Clearing the Path Forward: How Clean Slate Can Help LGBTQ+ Communities Move Beyond Barriers
Old arrest and conviction records often create barriers for LGBTQ+ individuals, amplifying the impacts of existing discrimination and systemic bias. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.
