Over 70 million Americans have a criminal record. In New York, an estimated 2.3 million individuals – 1 in 7 adults – have a criminal conviction on their record. Collateral damage from these records can be wide-ranging and enduring, including significant obstacles to securing housing, employment and other opportunities. 

Due to the prevalence of background checks, many people with past convictions feel that they can never move forward with their lives. Automatic expungement is fundamental to addressing the wrongs of over-policing, excessive prosecution, and racial injustice in our criminal legal system and to reducing the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact low-income individuals of color.

Tell Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to pass automatic records expungement to help put an end to perpetual punishment.