November 16, 2023
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL PALMESANO
“I am extremely disappointed Gov. Hochul would sign the radical and criminal-friendly Clean Slate Act. This bill would automatically seal the records of those convicted of misdemeanors after three years and anyone convicted of a felony after eight years. This is unacceptable not just to me but also to crime victims and their families. This is truly an insult to them, allowing those who caused them harm to see their records automatically wiped clean.
“It is not just low-level crimes that will be sealed either, attempted murder, aggravated manslaughter, gang assault, aggravated assault upon a police officer, criminal use of a chemical or biological weapon, most kidnappings, burglaries, assault, attempted arson, grand larceny and endangering the welfare of a child will now be eligible to be sealed.
“Violent criminals will now have their records automatically sealed without any judicial review or input from law enforcement, crime victims or their families. This is unacceptable. Businesses should have the right to know who they are hiring, just as landlords deserve to know if they are renting their property to a dangerous felon. This legislation does absolutely nothing to decrease crime or address the concerns of everyday New Yorkers.
“Gov. Hochul continues to claim public safety is her most important priority. However, once again, it seems Gov. Hochul has been bullied by radical progressives instead of standing up for the citizens of New York. Whether it be Bail Reform, Raise the Age or Clean Slate, Democrats in Albany continue to adopt soft-on-crime policies that put the interests of criminals ahead of public safety, crime victims and their families. It’s long past due for New York to reverse this dangerous trend, provide law enforcement with the support and tools they need and finally adopt common-sense criminal justice policies that make sure people are safe, and feel safe, in their own communities.”
FROM STATE SENATOR TOM O’MARA
Another day in New York, another pro-criminal policy pushed by one-party rule. This state is facing a crisis of rising crime and lawlessness, and yet this new law continues to make our communities, neighborhoods, and streets even less safe. The crisis, caused in large part by Democrat-led cashless bail and other soft-on-crime policies, could be stopped if Albany Democrats stopped pushing a radical, pro-criminal agenda. These new actions once again prove that Democrats care more about protecting violent felons and dangerous individuals than they do victims and law-abiding New Yorkers.”
Statewide polling throughout the past year continues to show that New Yorkers view crime as one of the most critical issues confronting the state and that New York is moving in the wrong direction to address it.
In 2019, Senate Democrats began completely reversing years of public safety progress by pushing the enactment of dangerous cashless bail laws, discovery law changes, parole “reforms,” Raise the Age, HALT, and other pro-criminal policies, O’Mara said.
Senate Republicans have responded by sounding the alarm and continuously calling for the enactment of measures to restore public safety in New York. The Senate GOP public protection plan, part of a comprehensive “Rescue New York” agenda released earlier this year, includes:
● Investing in law enforcement and fighting against Democrat efforts to “defund the police”;
● Ending cashless bail, restoring judicial discretion, and rejecting dangerous Democrat proposals, like Clean Slate, to erase criminal records;
● Fixing unworkable discovery and “speedy trial” laws that have turned the state’s criminal justice system into a revolving door for repeat and Violent offenders;
● Reforming a broken parole system and refocusing the parole process around the protection and rights of crime victims and their families;
● Ensuring that cop killers, serial killers, child killers, and other dangerous murderers can never be released from prison;
● Strengthening penalties for violent and repeat offenders, as well as hate crimes;
● Investing in proven mental health, addiction, homeless, and victims’ programs and services; and
● Strengthening and making Kendra’s Law permanent, to ensure that those struggling with mental illness get the help they need.
FROM SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO
“Governor Hochul’s signing today of the Clean Slate Act is more confirmation that catering to criminals and the radical wing of her party is more important than the safety and concerns of New Yorkers who have repeatedly cited rising crime as the state’s number one problem.
This misguided law will allow criminals – even serial offenders — to have their records automatically sealed after a specified time period. Serious crimes like manslaughter, armed robbery, domestic violence, and arson are among the crimes that will be hidden from employers and landlords, placing countless unsuspecting individuals in harm’s way.
There already exists a process for sealing criminal records that has reasonable safeguards to assure that the individuals in question don’t pose a public safety risk. Yet, like with all the criminal justice reforms passed in recent years by Albany Democrats, reasonable policies and reforms have been rejected and replaced with reckless versions.
This law is another slap in the face to New Yorkers who are watching their safety and quality of life rapidly erode.”
