Legislative Recap: Lay of the Land on State and Federal Record Sealing

Featuring

[Moderator] Sarah Anderson, Associate Director, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute

Marc Hyden, Senior Director, State Government Affairs, R Street Institute

Robert Melvin, Director, Government Affairs, Northeast Region, R Street Institute

Anthony Lamorena, Senior Manager, Federal Government Affairs, R Street Institute

Overview

As many state legislative sessions wrap up and Congress emerges from months of debate over reconciliation, it is worth looking back at what advocates for smart record-sealing policy accomplished in state legislatures and at the federal level. From campaigns in blue states like Maryland and Illinois to pushes in traditionally conservative states like Missouri and Texas, “clean slate” policy, which automates criminal record sealing, is gaining momentum. 

Despite divisive media rhetoric and complicated political dynamics, bipartisanship around commonsense criminal justice policy is still alive and well for many principled lawmakers.

Join the R Street Institute as our government affairs experts help us unpack what happened with clean slate bills in state legislatures that have concluded for the session, where things stand for those that remain in session year-round, and the prospects for effective clean slate policy in Congress. 

Additional Information

• “Spotlight on Criminal Justice: Supporting Law Enforcement and Safer Communities – May”
• “The Economic Case for Clean Slate Policy”
• “Navigating a New Normal: Automated Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement”
• “Old mistakes shouldn’t define a life. Missouri needs Clean Slate legislation.”