Sealing the Right Records: Cutting Red Tape and Focusing on Real Threats

Featuring

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

Lisel Petis, Policy Director, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute

Logan Seacrest, Resident Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute

Jillian Snider, Resident Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute

Overview

Clean slate policies are reshaping how criminal records are sealed, offering a smarter path forward for the justice system. But what do these changes actually mean for those tasked with enforcing the law and ensuring public safety? Join us as we unpack how automated record sealing can reduce law enforcement workload, enhance prosecutorial efficiency, and ease burdens on post-conviction systems without compromising accountability.

Panelists from the R Street Institute will break down the practical implications of clean slate laws and explain why these policies are more than second chances—they are modern tools for building a safer, more efficient criminal justice system. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of how record-clearance policies support core public safety goals while advancing economic opportunities for justice-involved individuals.

Key Discussion Points

• How automatic record sealing enhances law enforcement operations
• Prosecutorial perspectives on expungement and case backlog reduction
• Supervision impacts for probation and parole officers
• Why clean slate is a modernization, not a compromise

Additional Information

• “Navigating a New Normal: Automated Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement”
  
• “Old mistakes shouldn’t define a life. Missouri needs Clean Slate legislation.”
  
• “Pardon Me? How Federal Automated Record-sealing Can Stimulate the Economy and Increase Public Safety”