In Pennsylvania, nearly 1 in 3 – or three million – people have a criminal record. Many have only minor convictions, while others have been arrested but never even convicted of a crime. Because of the rise of technology and background-checking, even a minor record can now cause lifelong barriers to opportunity. Records negatively impact…
In Pennsylvania, homelessness is getting worse On any given day, 15,000 Pennsylvanians experience homelessness. Rates of homelessness in Pennsylvania have increased, especially among veterans, families, and young people. The number of young Pennsylvanians who do not have shelter has increased by a third. Criminal records contribute to homelessness Approximately 4 out of 5 landlords conduct…
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
On Wednesday, April 11th, Clean Slate moved a step closer to becoming law, when PA House Bill 1419 was passed by the House by a 188-2 vote. The Senate unanimously passed a similar Clean Slate bill, Senate Bill 529, on June 28, 2017. Clean Slate is an extremely important bill for Pennsylvanians with old or…
Navigating the child welfare system can be confusing, emotional, and overwhelming to a parent. The CLS Family Advocacy Unit has helped parents navigate this system on a day-to-day basis for over thirty years, representing thousands of parents. With generous initial funding support from the Samuel Fels Foundation, CLS staff interviewed parents to get their direct quotes…
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in 2015. Before Medicaid expansion, most lower-income adults who wanted Medicaid had to get forms from their doctors saying that they had health problems. Now, most lower-income adults can get Medicaid without medical forms. Q: Why does the welfare office ask for a medical form? A: Before Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in…
Over the past two decades, even the most minor criminal convictions have become lifetime barriers to the necessities of life – jobs, housing, education, and much more. The most effective public policy strategy to address these many barriers is to eliminate the record. A new proposal known as “Clean Slate” (SB 529/HB 1419) is a…
As of November 14, 2016, people with certain misdemeanor convictions can ask the court to seal their record. A sealed record will only be available to law enforcement. It will NOT be available to employers or the public. You may be eligible if all of the following apply: 1. You were convicted (plead guilty or were found guilty) of…
Billie Washington was struggling to make ends meet. A former home care attendant, she was no longer able to work due to her rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other illnesses. While waiting for her disability benefits hearing, she began receiving General Assistance. Ms. Washington carefully budgeted the monthly $205.00 to cover her rent, toiletries, medical co-payments, and public transportation to get to doctor’s appointments. When she found out that General Assistance was being eliminated, Ms. Washington felt like she had the rug yanked out from under her. Describing the feeling of desperation, she said, “I was crushed. I just, I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
