Clean Slate Helps Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman is someone we have all come to know and love, but he found himself in some trouble with the law during his formative years. Unbeknownst to Frosty, the silk hat the kids placed upon his head was stolen from a local retailer. By the time Frosty learned this, he was so enamored by the hat’s magic that he decided to keep it. He was subsequently arrested, tried, and convicted of receiving stolen goods in Pennsylvania. The hat was valued at $175, which constitutes a misdemeanor in the second degree. Frosty was sentenced to two years of probation with a $500 fine, restitution in the amount of $175, and the special condition that he would not enter the retail store from which the hat was stolen. The cold confines of his initial experience in police lockup were so impactful that Frosty was immediately determined to right his wrong and make amends to the community.
Frosty has remained crime-free since completing his sentence and has become a productive member of his community. He frequently shares his experience in schools, religious facilities, and youth centers to discourage others from stealing or receiving stolen property. Unfortunately, Frosty has encountered hurdles in securing stable and suitable employment due to his criminal record. He is behind on his rent and facing eviction. Being unhoused could even cost Frosty his life as winter turns to spring and spring turns to summer.
The good news is that Frosty will be eligible for clean slate automated record-sealing on Jan. 2, 2025—seven years after completing his sentence. Clean slate laws use technology to identify and automatically seal criminal records, including arrests that did not result in conviction. In 2018, Pennsylvania became the first state to pass clean slate legislation. Implemented the following year, the law has since been expanded to increase eligibility criteria so that more people can benefit from having their arrest, conviction, or incarceration records removed from the public purview.
Twelve states have passed clean slate laws since 2018, and many others have active campaigns to do the same. For individuals like Frosty who experience records-based discrimination in applying for educational programs, jobs, housing, and volunteer opportunities, a clean slate can be life changing. Not only do people with sealed records enjoy better employment outcomes, but our streets are safer and our economy stronger when people are given the chance to fully reintegrate into their communities. Publicly available, old, or inaccurate criminal records construct permanent barriers for individuals and their families that are often unrelated to the crime committed. These collateral consequences can increase their likelihood of cyclical legal system involvement, create negative outcomes for their children, and cost taxpayers and our national economy billions of dollars each year. Thoughtfully crafted clean slate legislation that includes public safety exclusions to eligibility and permits access to criminal records under certain and limited circumstances benefits us all.
December is a season of forgiveness, and January is a season of renewal. As 2024 winds down, let us celebrate the gift of a new year by giving Frosty—and others like him—a clean slate.
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