A clean slate for Kentucky: Why the legislature must act on second chances | Opinion

When “James” walked into a Clean Slate expungement clinic, he brought a lifetime of hope and a resume layered with years of honest work. But every job application was met with the same question: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” Despite paying his debt to society years earlier, that lingering record kept closing doors to employment, housing and opportunity. On his first visit to the clinic, James cried, not out of shame, but relief that someone finally heard his story and offered a path forward.

Stories like his are common in Kentucky. Criminal records, especially for nonviolent and low-level offenses, can create lifelong barriers to jobs, housing, education and occupational licenses even after an individual has completed their sentence and remained law-abiding. That’s why we urge the state legislature to pass Senate Bill 290 supporting statewide Clean Slate automatic expungement, and to send a clear signal that our commonwealth values dignity, economic opportunity and public safety.

Kentucky is committed to promoting public safety, economic opportunity, workforce participation and successful reentry for residents previously involved in the legal system, but current obstacles prevent many from accessing the relief already available under Kentucky law. Under existing statutes, people convicted of most misdemeanors and certain low-level felony offenses may be eligible to clear their records after a waiting period without additional arrests. But the process is costly, complex and burdensome for many Kentuckians. It can cost hundreds of dollars in filing fees, require multi-step paperwork, and often takes months for courts to process applications. In one recent advocacy report, 44% of Kentucky adults with a criminal record (about 572,000 residents) could qualify to have it cleared under current law, yet most haven’t taken that step due to systemic barriers including cost and confusion about the process.

Research consistently shows that stable employment and housing are among the strongest predictors of reduced recidivism and improved public safety outcomes. But a criminal record makes both significantly harder to achieve. More than 90% of employers, landlords and even educational institutions use background checks, and applicants with a criminal history are far less likely to receive callbacks or opportunities than equally qualified peers without one. Having a conviction on record also blocks access to critical government assistance programs and professional licenses, amplifying economic insecurity for families already struggling.

Clean Slate policies address these barriers by automatically sealing or expunging eligible criminal records after a defined period of law-abiding behavior, without requiring individuals to navigate costly petitions or court appearances themselves. Evidence from states that have implemented automatic expungement shows increases in workforce participation, higher wages and greater economic mobility, without compromising public safety. However, Kentucky’s current system leaves many behind.

Studies indicate that fewer than 10% of Kentuckians who are eligible under existing law obtain expungement due to the procedural hurdles and financial costs involved.

Organizations across our commonwealth are already doing vital work: legal clinics, volunteer attorneys and nonprofits have helped thousands of people clear eligible records. In one recent year alone, more than 6,000 records were expunged through these community efforts. But the sheer scale of unmet need demonstrates why policy reform is essential.

We believe that automatic expungement aligns powerfully with Kentucky’s goals of reducing poverty, strengthening families, expanding the labor force and promoting fair and efficient governance. It also reflects our shared values of mercy, dignity and opportunity for all, a moral imperative for our state.

We acknowledge concerns about public safety, and the proposed Clean Slate legislation appropriately prioritizes nonviolent and low-level offenses, ensures administrative efficiency and includes safeguards and transparency. Automatic relief does not protect individuals from accountability; it eliminates outdated barriers that serve neither justice nor public safety.

Kentucky’s leaders have a meaningful opportunity to advocate for a system that reflects the best of our state, one that recognizes the humanity of every resident and invests in second chances that strengthen families and communities across our Commonwealth.

We urge the state legislature to pass Senate Bill 290, the Clean Slate bill, to ensure that automatic expungement becomes law.

Let us send a clear message that in Kentucky, justice means the opportunity for redemption and full participation in community life.

Attica Scott of the Forward Justice Action Network and Sarah Durand of TactileBloom are part of the Clean Slate Kentucky Coalition.