Clean Slate: Support SB 288 and Automatic Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records in Ohio

Millions of Americans have a felony or misdemeanor conviction on their records and face substantial barriers to finding employment, housing, and social support after incarceration. Expunging, sealing, and/or setting aside a conviction — a “clean slate” process that clears or limits access to a public criminal record — can help more people find good jobs and secure safe and affordable housing. It can also help strengthen families, communities, local economies across the state, and promote public safety.

A study​ by professors at the University of Michigan Law School found that people whose criminal records have been expunged, sealed, or set aside have experienced “a sharp upturn in their wage and employment trajectories.” Clean slate policies are crucial to allow people to apply for employment, housing, and education opportunities.

We need your help to spread the word and to tell your State Legislator to support the sealing and expungement provision of SB 288 and to make the process automatic for charges that have been dismissed or for which there was a finding of not guilty. Expanding mechanisms to limit access to criminal records or set aside convictions has bipartisan support and needs to be a priority.