New York started automatically sealing eligible criminal records in November 2024. Most people who qualify don't know it yet — and most people who've heard of it don't know whether their specific record actually meets the criteria. Here's the real framework.
What the Clean Slate Act actually does
It's not expungement — the record still exists and remains visible to courts, law enforcement, and certain licensing agencies. What it does is seal the record from public view, so for most employers, landlords, and background check services, it becomes invisible.
The waiting periods
For a misdemeanor, the record can seal 3 years after the sentence is completed — meaning 3 years with no new arrests. For a felony, it's 8 years. The clock starts once the person is fully off parole or probation, not from the date of the original offense.
Not everything qualifies
Most sex offenses and the most serious violent felonies are excluded entirely, regardless of how much time has passed. If a specific record involves one of those categories, Clean Slate sealing likely doesn't apply — check with an attorney or the applicable county clerk's office to confirm.
The stage before Clean Slate even matters
A lot of these convictions didn't have to become convictions at all. Diversion and restorative justice programs can resolve a case without a conviction ever going on the record — but only if someone asks about them before a plea is entered, not after. See our guide to restorative justice and the exact questions to ask an attorney if the case in question hasn't reached a plea yet — that's the point where this decision actually gets made.
Why this matters beyond the individual
A sealed record changes what's possible — housing applications, most employment background checks, professional licensing in many fields. For a lot of people, it's the practical difference between a conviction that follows them indefinitely and one that stops showing up after the waiting period passes.
The real question isn't whether Clean Slate exists. It's whether a specific record qualifies, and when that person's clock actually started running.