CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW
New York has enacted a law that allows qualifying residents to leave their past behind them. This relief has come in the form of Criminal Procedure Law 160.59. Those who have been previously convicted of certain crimes now have the chance to seal their criminal records as long as they meet the outlined criteria.
MAKING IMPACTFUL CHANGE
“As former prosecutors and now as defense attorneys, we have had the unique opportunity of viewing the judicial system from both sides. We are presented with the challenge of how to make an impactful change in our communities…We want to provide individuals with the confidence to go out and support their families without the shadow of past mistakes holding them back”
— Scottie Celestin, Esq.
Countless individuals have been blocked from reaching their full potential and making the most of their lives because of a mistake they made earlier in their lives.
A criminal conviction has the potential to stop you or a loved one from achieving their dreams in countless ways.
A conviction can negatively impact housing and job opportunities. Possessing a criminal history has caused countless New Yorkers to suffer silently even years after paying their debt to society.
SEALING YOUR RECORD
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
When a criminal record is sealed it is not available to the public. That means the conviction still exists, but it will not be reported as part of a background check for the purposes of employment, housing, education and other important purposes. After sealing the only agencies who will have access to your records are:
Agencies carrying out law enforcement duties
If you are subject to law enforcement investigations
Applying for a firearm or law enforcement job