‘A Mistake Shouldn’t Sit on Your Shoulders.’

Pennsylvania Becomes First State to Clear Criminal Records Through Automation

As Pennsylvania’s historic Clean Slate Act takes effect, people like Keith will finally have their minor criminal records cleared so that they can have a second chance.

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Criminal records, no matter how old or minor, are often barriers to education, jobs, housing, and more. For people like Keith, these barriers can stand in the way for up to a decade. But as Pennsylvania’s first-in-the-nation Clean Slate Act takes effect, Keith’s record will be wiped clean via automation, freeing him up to take advantage of the second chance he has earned. Go to cleanslatecampaign.org to learn more.

Jasmine Hardy is the video editor at the Center for American Progress. David Ballard is the policy and outreach coordinator for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center. Rebecca Vallas is a senior fellow at the Center.

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