Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
[Screw you victims...] New York lawmakers move to automatically seal old criminal records
10 views
Skip to first unread message
Leroy N. Soetoro
Jun 13, 2023, 7:56:01 PM6/13/23
to
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-lawmakers-move-automatically-
seal-old-criminal-records
New Yorkers' old criminal records will be sealed automatically should they
not reoffend for several years under a proposal that passed the state
Assembly on Friday.
The proposal omits perpetrators of high-level offenses, such as sex crimes
and homicide.
The bill, championed by Democrats, was castigated by Republicans, many of
whom are eyeing crackdowns on crime. "I’m sorry, you committed it, you’re
convicted of it … and some aspects of those will be with you forever, just
like you did to your victim," Republican Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo said
of the legislation.
People in New York who have old criminal records could have them
automatically sealed as long as they remain out of trouble for a certain
number of years under a bill passed by lawmakers in the state Assembly on
Friday.
The "clean slate" legislation would automatically seal most recent
convictions — three years after serving time or parole for a misdemeanor,
and eight years for felony convictions. Sex crimes and most Class A
felonies, such as murder, will not be eligible for sealing.
The state Assembly debated the bill for almost five hours before passing
it on a party-line vote, garnering applause and cheers. The state Senate
is expected to follow and pass the measure, according to state legislative
leaders.
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE GREENLIGHTS APRIL PRIMARY DATE FOR 2024
Some liberal lawmakers and unions who support the bill say it would give
New Yorkers a path forward that is not encumbered by past mistakes. They
say a criminal record often means difficulty obtaining secure work and
housing.
That's the case for Ismael Diaz Jr., of Long Island, who was released from
prison seven years ago and is still struggling to find secure employment.
Diaz, who served almost 10 years in prison for manslaughter, said he went
through three rounds of interviews for a janitorial position at a
supermarket before being told he was "unemployable" because of his
criminal record.
"I was stressed out because I was trying to get a job and you can't
because of having a record," said Diaz, 52. "I want to earn a salary and
take care of my family and start building up my life where it is supposed
to be."
Other states including Utah and Michigan have passed similar measures.
California passed legislation last year that would automatically seal
conviction and arrest records for most ex-offenders who are not convicted
of another felony for four years.
Business groups including big companies like JPMorgan Chase and Verizon
have also endorsed the New York legislation. They say increasing the labor
pool would boost the state’s economy and make the state more competitive.
Under New York state law, employers can ask about conviction records at
any point in the hiring process, but they must consider factors such as
whether the conviction has any bearing on the person's ability to do the
job. But advocates for the legislation say that despite that, those with
criminal records face huge barriers to stable employment.
Nearly 2.2 million people in New York have criminal convictions, according
to a study by the Data Collaborative for Justice, a research center at
John Jay College. The study is based on New Yorkers who had convictions
from 1980 to 2021.
But Republican lawmakers and victim advocacy groups have criticized the
legislation, warning it will take away accountability for those who have
committed crimes.
"I’m sorry, you committed it, you’re convicted of it, and unfortunately
you have a debt to pay to society, and some aspects of those will be with
you forever, just like you did to your victim," said Republican state
Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, also a former prosecutor, before floor
deliberations. "I think this is completely disregarding the victims of
those crimes and disregarding society as a whole."
Palumbo said he favors an existing sealing statute in New York through
which people can apply to seal their records depending on the type of
conviction and whether they’re a repeat offender. But advocates for the
state’s "clean slate" bill said the application process is cumbersome and
expensive.
Less than 1% of New Yorkers eligible for sealing criminal records through
that statute have successfully done so, according to a study conducted by
Santa Clara University.
The automatic sealing would not apply to a person who has a pending felony
charge in another state.
NEW YORK LAWMAKERS APPROVE BILL CREATING STATE REPARATIONS COMMISSION
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, in
coordination with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, will be
tasked to provide data to state administrative agencies so that they can
seal eligible convictions.
Those sealed convictions could be later accessed by any court, prosecutors
and defense attorneys under certain conditions, as well as by federal and
state law enforcement agencies. Gun licensing agencies, law enforcement
employers, and employers for work with vulnerable populations such as
children and older adults will still be allowed to access the criminal
records.
The original version of the bill excluded only sex crimes from automatic
sealing and required seven years to pass until a felony conviction could
be sealed.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants to make sure the bill would not
have "any negative, unintended consequences" while also giving those with
criminal records a second chance.
"It's not a simple answer. These are complicated issues, far more than
people may realize at first glance," Hochul told reporters at an unrelated
event earlier in the week. "My goal as governor is to make sure we have
forward-thinking, progressive policies that actually work."
The bill would go into effect one year after it is signed into law.
wehavemettheenemyandheisus
20 minutes ago
Dems have to do this because a large fraction of their voter base are
offenders with records.
grayknight47
38 minutes ago
"I want to earn a salary and take care of my family and start building up
my life where it is supposed to be." -- And the person you killed? What
about where that life is supposed to be?
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
seal-old-criminal-records
New Yorkers' old criminal records will be sealed automatically should they
not reoffend for several years under a proposal that passed the state
Assembly on Friday.
The proposal omits perpetrators of high-level offenses, such as sex crimes
and homicide.
The bill, championed by Democrats, was castigated by Republicans, many of
whom are eyeing crackdowns on crime. "I’m sorry, you committed it, you’re
convicted of it … and some aspects of those will be with you forever, just
like you did to your victim," Republican Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo said
of the legislation.
People in New York who have old criminal records could have them
automatically sealed as long as they remain out of trouble for a certain
number of years under a bill passed by lawmakers in the state Assembly on
Friday.
The "clean slate" legislation would automatically seal most recent
convictions — three years after serving time or parole for a misdemeanor,
and eight years for felony convictions. Sex crimes and most Class A
felonies, such as murder, will not be eligible for sealing.
The state Assembly debated the bill for almost five hours before passing
it on a party-line vote, garnering applause and cheers. The state Senate
is expected to follow and pass the measure, according to state legislative
leaders.
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE GREENLIGHTS APRIL PRIMARY DATE FOR 2024
Some liberal lawmakers and unions who support the bill say it would give
New Yorkers a path forward that is not encumbered by past mistakes. They
say a criminal record often means difficulty obtaining secure work and
housing.
That's the case for Ismael Diaz Jr., of Long Island, who was released from
prison seven years ago and is still struggling to find secure employment.
Diaz, who served almost 10 years in prison for manslaughter, said he went
through three rounds of interviews for a janitorial position at a
supermarket before being told he was "unemployable" because of his
criminal record.
"I was stressed out because I was trying to get a job and you can't
because of having a record," said Diaz, 52. "I want to earn a salary and
take care of my family and start building up my life where it is supposed
to be."
Other states including Utah and Michigan have passed similar measures.
California passed legislation last year that would automatically seal
conviction and arrest records for most ex-offenders who are not convicted
of another felony for four years.
Business groups including big companies like JPMorgan Chase and Verizon
have also endorsed the New York legislation. They say increasing the labor
pool would boost the state’s economy and make the state more competitive.
Under New York state law, employers can ask about conviction records at
any point in the hiring process, but they must consider factors such as
whether the conviction has any bearing on the person's ability to do the
job. But advocates for the legislation say that despite that, those with
criminal records face huge barriers to stable employment.
Nearly 2.2 million people in New York have criminal convictions, according
to a study by the Data Collaborative for Justice, a research center at
John Jay College. The study is based on New Yorkers who had convictions
from 1980 to 2021.
But Republican lawmakers and victim advocacy groups have criticized the
legislation, warning it will take away accountability for those who have
committed crimes.
"I’m sorry, you committed it, you’re convicted of it, and unfortunately
you have a debt to pay to society, and some aspects of those will be with
you forever, just like you did to your victim," said Republican state
Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, also a former prosecutor, before floor
deliberations. "I think this is completely disregarding the victims of
those crimes and disregarding society as a whole."
Palumbo said he favors an existing sealing statute in New York through
which people can apply to seal their records depending on the type of
conviction and whether they’re a repeat offender. But advocates for the
state’s "clean slate" bill said the application process is cumbersome and
expensive.
Less than 1% of New Yorkers eligible for sealing criminal records through
that statute have successfully done so, according to a study conducted by
Santa Clara University.
The automatic sealing would not apply to a person who has a pending felony
charge in another state.
NEW YORK LAWMAKERS APPROVE BILL CREATING STATE REPARATIONS COMMISSION
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, in
coordination with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, will be
tasked to provide data to state administrative agencies so that they can
seal eligible convictions.
Those sealed convictions could be later accessed by any court, prosecutors
and defense attorneys under certain conditions, as well as by federal and
state law enforcement agencies. Gun licensing agencies, law enforcement
employers, and employers for work with vulnerable populations such as
children and older adults will still be allowed to access the criminal
records.
The original version of the bill excluded only sex crimes from automatic
sealing and required seven years to pass until a felony conviction could
be sealed.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants to make sure the bill would not
have "any negative, unintended consequences" while also giving those with
criminal records a second chance.
"It's not a simple answer. These are complicated issues, far more than
people may realize at first glance," Hochul told reporters at an unrelated
event earlier in the week. "My goal as governor is to make sure we have
forward-thinking, progressive policies that actually work."
The bill would go into effect one year after it is signed into law.
wehavemettheenemyandheisus
20 minutes ago
Dems have to do this because a large fraction of their voter base are
offenders with records.
grayknight47
38 minutes ago
"I want to earn a salary and take care of my family and start building up
my life where it is supposed to be." -- And the person you killed? What
about where that life is supposed to be?
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
0 new messages