MINNEAPOLIS — The Clean Slate Act went into effect on New Year’s Day, expunging all eligible convictions.
Randy Anderson has a federal drug conviction from the 2000s, so the Clean Slate Act doesn’t apply to him, but he says his record has prevented him from getting life insurance, and it’s complicated becoming licensed as a drug and alcohol counselor.
“When is enough enough?” Anderson said. “When have I actually paid my debt to society? I haven’t yet, because it still shows up in my life all the time.”
DFL Rep. Jamie Long of Minneapolis co-authored the bill.
“The Clean Slate Act is about offering people second chances and an opportunity for redemption,” said Long.
Lower-level, non-violent crimes are expunged, as long as the person committed no other crimes for a certain number of years.
A 2023 Santa Clara University study estimated about 470,000 Minnesotans were eligible for expungements, yet only 5% of them have done it.