Balanced News: New York will automatically seal old criminal records under a new law signed by Gov. Hochul

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a new law that automatically seals criminal records for individuals who have completed their sentences and maintained a clean record for a certain period of time. The legislation, known as “clean slate” legislation, will seal most criminal records after three years for misdemeanors and eight years for felonies. The law aims to remove barriers to housing and employment faced by individuals with criminal records. The new law will go into effect in one year and will not apply to individuals with pending felony charges in other states.