Despite opposition from the GOP, law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims rights groups, among others concerned that bill will make New York less safe, the Progressive legislators who control the state legislature approved a “Clean Slate” law that will prohibit judges, employers and the public from seeing the criminal backgrounds of people they are dealing with.
“This is more of the same from our New York Legislature,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney who lobbied against the bill. “They seek at every turn to protect criminals at the expense of victims and honest, hard-working citizens. This will result in more violence and crime perpetrated against ordinary New Yorkers,” according to the 30-year prosecutor. “The only question is, how much?”
Opponents of the bill, pushed through by the Progressive left that controls New York State government, argue that the automatic sealing of convictions, including vehicular homicide, burglary, robbery, and kidnapping, would jeopardize the public.
“This law will make it illegal for a citizen to ask if a convicted murderer is applying to work or live with them,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano (R,C-Medford) who rallied with his Republican colleagues and police, sheriffs, and prosecutors in the closing days of the legislative session in Albany to block the bill. It is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul the moment it hits her desk. “An accountant won’t know if a prospective employee has a history of embezzlement,” DeStefano continued. “That babysitter or caregiver you’re thinking about hiring to watch your children or take care of your elderly parents, you won’t know if they’ve been convicted of abuse.”
Also, as repeat offenders appear before judges, their previous convictions will be off limits under the bill. “It eviscerates increased penalties for repeated drunk driving, animal abuse and prior firearms convictions,” Tierney pointed out. “It ignores repeat offenders, who have federal or out-of-state convictions.”
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Legislators, law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims rights groups, among
others concerned that the Clean Slate bill will make New York less safe, rally in Albany in an attempt to block its passage. The Progressive Democrats who control state government passed it anyway and it heads to Gov. Hochul who is expected to sign it. File Photo
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“We’re trying to work prosecutors such as Ray Tierney to make our communities safer,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward Romaine, a pro-law enforcement candidate for Suffolk County Executive. “Laws like these make it that much more difficult.”
Jennifer Harrison, Founder of Victims Rights NY said, “Our loved ones and our families were robbed of any second chances when the criminals advocated for in this legislation intentionally took the lives of another human being. Imagine being told that first your violent attacker or person that killed your child was being released, and now that person can pretend it never even happened while you, the innocent casualty, have to suffer a life sentence of pain, trauma and grief.”
According to Harrison, “There are much simpler, common-sense alternatives like expanding the expungement process through public defender offices, for example, so that those truly deserving of a second chance are provided with the resources and opportunity to get one. Pro-criminal, anti-victim ‘reforms’ are unsustainable and deadly. To pass more would epitomize insanity.”