.avif)
For The Record: A Clean Slate Public Service Announcement
Stigma surrounding arrest and conviction records marks people with a scarlet letter long after they’ve paid their debt to society — but we are not defined by those records.
The Clean Slate Initiative invited people who have a past arrest or conviction to share the records that have truly defined them.
These are their stories: For the record.
.avif)
Meet the People Behind the Lens
D’Juan is a dedicated advocate for justice and parental rights, drawing from his own life experiences to inspire others. After serving time in prison, where he earned his GED and legal research certification, he began helping incarcerated individuals understand their rights. Upon release, D’Juan pursued paralegal studies and now aims to become an attorney. He’s the founder of Fresh-Mindz, Fresh-Livez, Inc., a youth mentoring organization that teaches legal literacy and also does work with VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights Union, supporting justice-impacted people and fighting for parental rights. After years of searching, D'Juan recently reunited with his son, Isaiah, and is seeking guardianship, determined to rewrite their story together.
Ismael is an entrepreneur and criminal justice advocate whose journey from incarceration to empowerment inspires others. While in prison, he earned a Behavioral Science degree with honors and joined multiple honor societies. Despite facing job rejections due to his record, Ismael channeled his setbacks into advocacy, becoming a lead speaker for the Clean Slate New York campaign. Now a community organizer with the Center for Community Alternatives, he also owns two businesses, Free Time Laundry and Brklynz Empanadas. Ismael’s resilience underscores his belief that his past fuels his commitment to reform, not defines him.
Jacqueline is the Founder of Evolution Reentry Services, a nonprofit supporting justice-impacted women as they rebuild their lives. Drawing from her own experience with reentry, Jacqueline empowers others to overcome challenges she understands well, from career barriers to educational setbacks. A vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, her work has been widely recognized through media features and the Connecticut Hall of Change. Holding advanced degrees in Social Work, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice, Jacqueline’s dedication brings hope and change to countless women reentering society.
Mary is a passionate advocate for second chances, using her own journey from addiction and incarceration to inspire and support others. A former honor student who once studied abroad, her life took a detour at 17, leading to years of substance abuse and involvement with the justice system. Now over two years into her reentry, Mary serves as a case manager, Peer Coordinator, and Program Manager for social justice organizations in Connecticut, helping others rebuild their lives. Celebrating three years of sobriety and recent recognition as one of Connecticut's Top 100 Women of Color, Mary exemplifies the power of resilience and transformation.
Monica overcame incredible challenges to become a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform. A survivor of an abusive relationship that led to her own incarceration, Monica now uses her experience to push for systemic change, including her work to end prison gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Her proudest achievements are as a mother to her son, Jay, a Recording Arts graduate, and her daughter, Lyric, an Emmy-winning model, actress, and athlete. Monica’s advocacy has been featured in publications like Penn Capital Star, and she continues to inspire through public speaking and educational achievements, including studying abroad, earning prestigious scholarships, and a Seton Hall Certificate in cultivating transformative change. Her powerful voice has been heard on national platforms, where she shares her story to inspire and empower others.
For the Record: You can Support Clean Slate
Share The PSA
You can help us spread the word. To make sharing the PSA a breeze, we created a social media sharing guide with content for you to use. Check it out and share the PSA with your networks today.
Share your Story
Beyond an arrest or conviction, what records have truly defined you?Share your story with us.
Send a Message
You can help us spread the word. To make sharing the PSA a breeze, we created a social media sharing guide with content for you to use. Check it out and share the PSA with your networks today.
Sign up for Emails
Stay connected with The Clean Slate Initiative by signing up for our email list. Emails include updates on our work, special announcements, and event invites.
Follow us on Social Media
Follow our social media accounts to catch our latest updates and more — and spread the word by sharing that content with your own followers.
Donate Now
Your tax-deductible donation will help The Clean Slate Initiative advance our goal of bringing Clean Slate to all 50 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FAQ page to find resources and answers to common questions, like “What is the difference between record clearance, expungement, sealing, and pardons?” and “Does The Clean Slate Initiative provide legal help or record clearance services?”
Read About How
We're Changing the Narrative
.png)
Second Chance Language: Understanding the Differences Between Types of Record Relief
Record relief is making headlines across the country as discussions around second chances take center stage. With terms like pardon, clemency, expungement, and Clean Slate frequently appearing in the media, it’s more important than ever to understand the key differences between them. Learn more in this update from Reginald Darby, Federal Legislative Director.
Second Chances Embody Conservative Values: The Case for Clean Slate
Republican lawmakers have a unique opportunity in 2025: They can build the momentum of Clean Slate by championing the legislation at the state and federal levels, and play a leading role in unlocking opportunities for millions of Americans, boosting our economy, and making our communities safer. Learn more in this contributed update from Jason Pye, Vice President at Due Process Institute.
Finding Common Ground: How to Talk About Clean Slate During the Holidays
How can we bring conversations about Clean Slate to life in a way that resonates with family and friends? It’s all about connection and shared values. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.
Hope for the Holidays: Inspiration Through CSI's Storyteller Series
Clean Slate laws embody hope and second chances, and CSI’s Storyteller Series includes stories of people who have received a Clean Slate. Learn more in this update from Stacey Ferguson, VP of Marketing & Communications.
Breaking Bread and Breaking Barriers
Forgiveness and generosity aren’t just Thanksgiving principles. For many people, they’re core values — that’s one of the reasons support for Clean Slate has gained so much momentum: People believe in the power of redemption. Learn more in this update from Sheena Meade, CEO. Learn more in this update from Sheena Meade, CEO.
"For the Record" Changing the Narrative with a Clean Slate PSA
As part of our “Changing the Narrative” campaign, we produced a Clean Slate Public Service Announcement, titled “For The Record,” that illustrates one of the core principles of our work: “People should not be defined by their records.” Learn more in this update from Stacey Ferguson, VP of Marketing & Communications.
A Veteran's Perspective on Second Chances
On Veteran’s Day, as we honor those who served, one of CSI’s own reflects on her journey — one that intersects the pride of wearing a military uniform and the barriers imposed by having an arrest or conviction record. Learn more in this update from Bry Jones, Marketing & Communications Team Coordinator.
"CBS Mornings" Highlights Clean Slate
Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings" brings viewers the latest breaking news, smart conversation, and in-depth feature reporting — and on October 23, they invited our CEO, Sheena Meade, to join the broadcast. Learn more in this update from Sheena.
A Different Kind of Record: Using Art to Put the Focus on the Person, Not Their Past
This year at CSI’s 2024 Annual Convening, we had the privilege of featuring Philadelphia-based artist Mark Loughney. Mark is a justice-impacted painter, draftsman, and portraitist, whose art acts as a national courier for justice reform efforts. Learn more about Mark’s work in this blog post by Bry Jones, Marketing & Communications Team Coordinator.
Through the Fog: The Importance of Record Sealing for People Struggling with Mental Health
People often equate mental health challenges to walking through a dense fog. For someone struggling with their mental health, while also living with the consequences of an arrest or conviction record, that fog can be even thicker. With Clean Slate, we can create better conditions. Read more in this blog post by Morgan Kelly, Marketing & Communications Strategist.
%20(1).png)
Shifting the Record: Changing the Narrative to Advance Clean Slate
Stigma surrounding people with records can stick a scarlet letter on people long after they’ve paid their debt to society, which can add to the barriers people face when trying to build a better life. That’s why narrative change is a key part of CSI’s three-pronged strategy to fulfill our mission. Read more in this blog post by Stacey Ferguson, V.P. of Marketing & Communications.
The Strategy Behind Clean Slate
The support and success behind Clean Slate continue to grow — but it’s not happening by chance. There’s a comprehensive, multi-year strategy behind the work that we do. That strategy is laid out in our Strategic Plan in detail, available on our website, and it involves a few key elements that propel this movement forward every day. Learn more in this blog post by our Chief of Staff, Alex Williams.
Words Matter: A Call for Responsible Dialogue During the Presidential Race
Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, addresses campaign strategists, the media, and the general public in an open letter, urging careful consideration of the language used in the final few months of the presidential race.
Second Chances Cast a Ripple Effect: How Clean Slate Led Me to a High Honor from the Nation's First HBCU
In May, CSI’s CEO Sheena Meade was invited to Cheyney University — the nation’s first HBCU — to receive an Honorary Doctor of Public Service in recognition of the work that she’s done to reform our justice system and deliver second chances. Read more in this blog post from Sheena.
Second Chance Stories
The stories below highlight a few directly impacted people who are involved in Clean Slate work across the country. Take a few moments to read through their stories and learn more about the impact of redemption… because it’s about much #MoreThanSecondChances.
Watch: "Celebrating Women's History Month: Trailblazers and Triumphs", A Conversation with Women Leaders in the Legal Reform Movement
As part of CSI’s ongoing recognition of WHM, we hosted a webinar titled "Celebrating Women's History Month: Trailblazers and Triumphs." The webinar allowed me to facilitate a pivotal discussion surrounding the legal system reform and solutions provided by automatic record clearance. Learn more and tune in to the webinar in this blog post by Sheena Meade, CEO.
This Halloween, Let's Recognize that Second Chances Aren't Scary
It might be spooky season, but automatic record sealing isn’t a scary topic. Read more from Chelsea Murphy, Campaign Strategist.
Clean Slate Policies Can Help Break Down Barriers to Education
It's time to talk about education — specifically, barriers to education for the millions of adults in America who are living with a record. Read more in this guest contribution by Stanley Andrisse, Executive Director of From Prison Cells to PhD, Scientist, and author of From Prison Cells to PhD: It’s Never Too Late To Do Good.
My Journey Through Reentry and Into a Second Chance
Amanda’s journey through addiction, incarceration, reentry, and receiving a second chance is a story about perseverance, strength, determination, and the need for Clean Slate. Learn more in this guest blog post by Amanda Hall, Justice Director of Dream.org.
2023 Second Chance Month Social Media Toolkit
This year marks the seventh consecutive year recognizing April as Second Chance Month.
Ensuring people with an arrest or conviction record have meaningful second chances is important. And in recent years, Clean Slate legislation has emerged as a powerful tool to ensure everyone has a shot at redemption.
The Clean Slate Initiative’s bipartisan endeavor has been successful in passing and implementing laws that automate government record-sealing processes to automatically seal records for those who are eligible.
We need your help to ensure the progress continues.
Use our Second Chance Month Toolkit to show your support of Clean Slate efforts this month. We invite you to use the content in our toolkit as-is or as inspiration for your own content throughout Second Chance Month.
Clean Slate Storytellers Video Premieres
The Clean Slate Initiative will premiere a new video in its Storytellers series on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of National Expungement Week. The videos were captured at our Annual Convening in Detroit, MI, in May of 2022.
Clean Slate Storytellers
CSI’s storyteller series showcases real-life people across the country who have, or had, an arrest or conviction record.
Hearing first-hand experiences is one of the most impactful ways we can build support for Clean Slate.
Bill: Clean Slate Storytellers
Bill Wallace founded Tomorrow's Promise Foundation in 2017 with the mission of empowering youth by providing access to programs that enhance life skills. After being tried as an adult and sentenced to prison as a juvenile, Bill transformed his life through determination and hard work. Today, he leads Tomorrow's Promise Foundation, shaping the next generation of community leaders.
Erica: Clean Slate Storytellers
Erica thought she knew the (justice) system she was working in… until she had to learn more about it from a true insiders’ perspective after both her parents were sentenced. Her story is an example of how records reach beyond the person who carries them, and what it means to love someone who lives with a record.
Kenneth: Clean Slate Storytellers
By moving to a big city, Kenneth thought that he’d be able to find a well-paying, steady job and then move up from there. Instead, because of his record, he was faced with 40 interviews that resulted in 40 rejections. After finally landing a job, he still faced barriers to housing, getting life insurance, and more.
Neshea: Clean Slate Storytellers
Naesha’s story touches on the stigma that surrounds people who have records. She talks about how the process of seeking record relief isn’t just financially burdensome and time-consuming — it’s also an emotional journey, which is one of the many reasons why automated record sealing is so important.
Destiny: Clean Slate Storytellers
Destiny’s story showcases how important it is for people with records to find open doors instead of endless barriers. After overcoming addiction, homelessness, and a past filled with trauma, she still felt pulled down by the weight of her record — until she was presented with an opportunity for a job that changed the course of her life.
Jamar: Clean Slate Storytellers
Jamar shares his story through art: His spoken word performance highlights how he transformed pain into purpose, and his passion for writing and storytelling is how he hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Ronald: Clean Slate Storytellers
Ronald knows that mental health is a major factor for people trying to get through incarceration and build a better future. He helps build a path to second chances through healing and trauma education — to ensure that people aren’t bound by their past mistakes.
Dr. Topeka: Clean Slate Storytellers
Dr. Topeka’s story illustrates how anyone, from any background, could find themselves in need of a second chance. Despite being raised with opportunities, love, and support, she made mistakes. She knows first-hand how hard it can be for women who are trying to move past their mistakes and into a better future, and how Clean Slate can help remove some of the barriers blocking their way.
Tiffany: Clean Slate Storytellers
Inspired by her brother’s story, Tiffany shares the importance of life after incarceration, and how policy-led system changes like Clean Slate can help people find redemption rather than revolving doors of incarceration.
Clean Slate Storytellers: Zaki
When Zaki was convicted, he had no idea that the collateral consequences of his record would follow him long after he finished his sentence. Zaki’s passion is using his experience and his story to work with young people, but his record creates barriers to that work — keeping him from working in schools despite fifteen years of community service and rebuilding his life.
Kristie: Clean Slate Storytellers
Kristie was battling a substance abuse addiction when she got her record — and that record followed her as she tried to move beyond her addiction and create a better life for her family. Kristie’s story is a showcase of grit and resilience, and uplifts the idea that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a baseline of support and resources.
Marlon: Clean Slate Storytellers
A story like Marlon’s is an example of how barriers from records can present themselves in ways most would never think of, like blocking someone from being the executor of a loved one’s estate. Marlon’s story emphasizes that Clean Slate is a way to a better life.
This profile sheds light on the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals and the hope that Clean Slate policies bring.
David: Clean Slate Storytellers
David’s story highlights how – no matter how much a person accomplishes after their arrest or conviction – a record can be a life-long sentence that blocks opportunities for someone to engage in their kids’ education, like volunteering for a school trip. David talks about how Clean Slate sparks hope for a true second chance, so that people can live transformative lives without the weight of their record hanging over their head.
This profile sheds light on the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals and the hope that Clean Slate policies bring.
Scott: Clean Slate Storytellers
Stories like Scott’s – a former probation and parole officer – showcase how the justice system creates barriers for people with records, and how those barriers can hinder hope and a drive to do better. Scott reminds us that behind every record is a person with hopes, dreams, and the potential to contribute to society.
This profile sheds light on the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals and the hope that clean slate policies bring.
Elvina: Clean Slate Storytellers
Elvina's story reveals the invisible barriers a record creates, preventing access to jobs, housing, and even assistance programs. She couldn't even get a job at McDonalds because of her record. Now, with her Clean Slate, she’s got a great job and is back in school pursuing an accounting degree and a real estate license.
This profile sheds light on the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals and the hope that Clean Slate policies bring.
Jibria: Clean Slate Storytellers
Jibria is one of the more than 100 million people in America directly impacted by the criminal legal system. As the Operations Manager for the Clean Slate Initiative, Jibria works every day to ensure everyone has a second chance. This is part of her story.
Lukee: Clean Slate Storytellers
Maggie: Clean Slate Storytellers
Maggie is a directly impacted leader from Texas who is working to ensure everyone has a shot at redemption. The Clean Slate Initiative is a bipartisan policy model that works to update and expand eligibility for arrest and conviction record clearance if a person stays crime-free for a period of time.
