Non Conviction Record Clearing Policy Brief

Millions of people each year are arrested on charges that do not result in a criminal conviction (“non-convictions”) – the charges are rejected, dismissed, or result in a conviction that is subsequently overturned or vacated. But even without a conviction, the record of an arrest can create long-lasting barriers to employment, housing and other crucial opportunities, which in turn decreases economic growth and public safety. In fact, old records cost Americans more than $372 billion in lost wages each year. 

Promptly systematically clearing non-conviction records when they are resolved removes these barriers and simplifies clearance processes. In Case Closed: Streamlined Record Clearance for Non-Convictions, Alliance for Safety and Justice offers practical recommendations on how state policies can make non-conviction record clearance a more routine, effective and efficient process, highlighting several innovative state policies as examples.