If you have a criminal record that is stopping you from getting opportunities, there is hope in New York State. As long as you meet certain criteria and follow instructions, you can get your criminal records sealed. Keep in mind that there is a legal difference between having your record expunged versus having it sealed. The Clean Slate Act, which will automatically seal certain records, will not go into effect until 2027. According to LawInfo,
While expungement clears a conviction or arrest off of a person’s record, sealed records give the appearance that the conviction or arrest has been cleared. In essence, when a person’s record is sealed, it means that it’s not readily available to the public.
Once your record is sealed, only qualified agencies and law enforcement, including federal, state, and local agencies, can access it. Immigration agencies can also see your record if you are not a United States citizen, which may work against you under the current regime. When New York State legalized recreational marijuana, it expunged past marijuana convictions, so that expungement does not count towards your sealing limit.
Here’s How To Get Your Criminal Record Sealed In New York
1. You must wait 10 years before you can apply to have your criminal record sealed. The decade begins at the date of your conviction or release from prison, whichever is the latest…