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Advocates call for expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law

Advocates call for expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law
UP. THANK YOU, JOE. ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR AN EXPANSION OF PENNSYLVANIA’S CLEAN SLATE LAW. THE CLEAN SLATE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR AUTOMATED RECORD SEALING FOR NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANORS. AFTER TEN YEARS OF NOT COMMITTING ANOTHER CRIME. NOW, AN EXPANSION OF THE LAW WOULD GIVE RESIDENTS WITH CERTAIN LOW LEVEL, NONVIOLENT FELONIES ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET. THEIR EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD, WHO HAS HAD SOME INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE. AND THE FEEDBACK WE HEAR IS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE VERY FREQUENTLY TURN OUT TO BE THE BEST EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE. PENNSYLVANIA WAS THE FIRST STATE TO ENACT THIS KIND OF PROGRAM SINCE GOING INTO EFFECT IN 28 TO 2018. TEN OTHER STATES HAVE CREATED
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Advocates call for expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law
Advocates are calling for an expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law.The program currently provides automated record sealing for nonviolent misdemeanors after a waiting period of 10 years without committing another crime.But a proposed expansion of the law would give residents with certain low-level, nonviolent felonies access to employment and housing opportunities they may otherwise be barred from."Their experience when they hire someone who has a criminal record, who has had some interaction with the criminal justice system at some point in their life, and the feedback we hear is that these individuals very frequently turn out to be the best employees they have," said Alex Halper, the vice president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.Pennsylvania was the first state to enact this kind of program.Since going into effect in 2018, 10 other states have created their own Clean Slate programs.

Advocates are calling for an expansion of Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law.

The program currently provides automated record sealing for nonviolent misdemeanors after a waiting period of 10 years without committing another crime.

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But a proposed expansion of the law would give residents with certain low-level, nonviolent felonies access to employment and housing opportunities they may otherwise be barred from.

"Their experience when they hire someone who has a criminal record, who has had some interaction with the criminal justice system at some point in their life, and the feedback we hear is that these individuals very frequently turn out to be the best employees they have," said Alex Halper, the vice president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Pennsylvania was the first state to enact this kind of program.

Since going into effect in 2018, 10 other states have created their own Clean Slate programs.