Lawmakers, labor leaders, and community advocates gathered at the Rhode Island State House on Thursday to highlight the Rhode Island Clean Slate Act (H7508/ S2711), legislation that would automate the sealing of eligible arrest and conviction records and expand access to second chances for thousands of residents across the state. Supporters maintain that the Clean Slate Act represents a commonsense reform that strengthens communities, supports workforce participation, and ensures that past mistakes do not permanently hold back people who have earned a second chance.
Here’s the press conference video. Brandon Robinson, Director of Justice Strategies at Open Doors, Clean Slate RI, and Stop Torture RI, emceed the event.
“We’re here to make change and give people back the rights they deserve: the right to dwell and bask in the second chance they’ve earned after completing their probation and the waiting period required to qualify for expungement,” said Robinson. “Clean slate expungement will automate the process, essentially fast-tracking it compared to the current petition-based process. We want to fast-track that because people are already waiting long enough for their records to be expunged after staying out of trouble and completing their probation. Everybody deserves a second chance. We are not the people we were yesterday, nor are we the people that we were 10, 20, or 30 years ago. Here in Rhode Island, we have the longest probation in the country. That means that individuals are on probation for an average of 20 years. On top of that, tack on a 10-year wait period to demonstrate good faith. That’s 30 years. So if you committed that crime when you were 18, that means you have to wait till you’re 50 years old to have a second chance.”
“Three hundred thousand people in Rhode Island have a criminal record,” said Melanie Perez, an organizer with Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE). “That’s almost one out of every three people. The Clean Slate Act, when implemented, would help 77,000 people on day one. These are people who are already eligible for expungement but haven’t gone through the petition-based process. We at Clean Slate want to create an automated process in which the courts take responsibility for expungement, because, as of now, we have to petition the courts and go before a judge.
“We’re asking the legislature to pass this bill, so it takes the burden off everyday people,” continued Perez. “I have experience with expungement because after doing my time and going back to school - I was going for a medical degree - I realized that with my record, I wasn’t able to get a job in that field. About six months ago, I was eligible. I am now enrolled in school again. This is something that we should make available to people at all times.”
Supporters say the Clean Slate Act would streamline the state’s expungement process by allowing eligible records to be sealed through an automated system administered by courts and state agencies — eliminating the need for individuals to navigate costly petitions, legal assistance, or filing fees.
Dina Bruce, deputy director of Open Doors, a Providence-based nonprofit that supports individuals who are formerly incarcerated and unhoused, told a personal story:
“Many of our staff have lived experience with incarceration, addiction, and homelessness. That lived experience allows us to provide peer-based support and truly understand the barriers people face when trying to rebuild their lives. For me, this work is personal. I’m a formerly incarcerated woman in recovery. In my 30s, I was injured and prescribed pain medication. Like many others, I became addicted. That addiction led me down a path where I began shoplifting to support my habit. Eventually, that led me to be incarcerated. I was released from prison, paroled to the Providence Center’s Women’s Roads to Recovery, and I met a woman named Jasmin DiMaio. She was a program manager. She supported me. She believed in me. She encouraged and mentored me. She said at my graduation, ‘Dina, I would love to hire you one day. Just stay clean.’
“That’s where my journey to rebuilding a fulfilling and productive life began. Jasmin gave me hope for a new beginning. My children gave me strength, and I put the work in to do and be better. It’s where I found my purpose. Today, in my role as Deputy Director of Open Doors, I’ve opened and oversee four homeless shelters and two transitional sober houses for women and women with children, serving more than 300 clients every day, including parolees and women who are court-ordered. I have sat on the board of directors for the Rhode Island Continuum of Care, and I’ve recently been appointed to the Governor’s Council on Housing and Homelessness.
“One out of every three adults in Rhode Island has a past arrest or conviction record, and tens of thousands of people continue to face barriers long after they’ve completed their sentences, including me. Despite all that I’ve accomplished and all that I contribute to my community, my record has prevented me from having housing, employment, and educational opportunities. It’s prevented me from securing housing, even when I earn more than three times the rent, and from job opportunities, even when I was fully qualified.
“Past mistakes should not define someone for the rest of their life, and not after they’ve turned their lives around. Clean Slate legislation recognizes something simple but powerful: People deserve the opportunity to move forward after they’ve done the work to change their lives. Clean Slate will remove the only barrier in my way and make second chances possible for so many other people in Rhode Island.”
“The Clean Slate Act will give a second chance to those who are eligible for expungement,” said Representative Julie Casimiro (Democrat, District 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), one of the bill’s sponsors. “This is a fair and much-needed bill that makes expungement easy for those who are eligible. It’s already the law — Clean Slate just makes it easier to complete.”
Currently, many eligible Rhode Islanders never complete the record-sealing process due to complex requirements and administrative barriers. Advocates say automation ensures that individuals who have completed their sentences and remain conviction-free can fully move forward with their lives.
“The Clean Slate Act is aimed at ensuring anyone who is eligible to have their criminal record expunged or sealed has that opportunity,” said Senator Andrew Dimitri (Democrat, District 25, Johnston). “Many Rhode Islanders have spent decades with lingering arrest and conviction records for non-violent offenses because they lack the means or knowledge to clear these charges. Expungement laws in our state are too restrictive overall, and I am happy to sponsor important legislation that takes a step toward addressing that.”
Labor leaders emphasized the economic impact of removing outdated barriers to employment and housing.
“This legislation takes an important step forward for justice and economic opportunity for Rhode Island families,” said Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “Too many individuals face barriers to employment and fair housing long after they have served their time. By providing automatic expungement of eligible records, this bill ensures that people can fully participate in the workforce, support their families, and contribute to our communities without being held back by their past.”
Community organizations working directly with impacted Rhode Islanders say the legislation reflects years of advocacy and coalition-building across the state.
“Direct Action for Rights and Equality is a proud leader in this partnership with The Clean Slate Initiative and Open Doors here in Rhode Island,” said Marcus Mitchell, Executive Director of DARE to Win. “This important legislation will help tens of thousands of our fellow Rhode Islanders more fully re-engage in our communities, giving them better access to employment opportunities, housing, and education, while also creating significant savings in social safety net costs. I’m hopeful that thousands of families, businesses, individuals, faith leaders, and neighbors will join us in this work to strengthen our laws in Rhode Island.”
The Clean Slate Act builds on Rhode Island’s recent progress toward automated record-sealing reforms while maintaining public-safety protections. More serious offenses would remain ineligible, and courts and law enforcement agencies would retain access when appropriate.
“Thirteen states and Washington D.C. have embraced Clean Slate because it’s a commonsense policy. When people have earned a second chance, the system shouldn’t stand in the way of their access to that relief,” said Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative (CSI). “The Clean Slate Initiative is proud to partner with the coalition in Rhode Island that has come together to pass Clean Slate and open doors to better opportunities for 77,000 Rhode Islanders who are currently held back by their old records.”
Love this!!!!