Madmallard
.223 Rem
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York attorney Rick Collins said he understands why advocates might be hailing the state's new law raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18.
But he said a major change to the criminal justice system has largely flown under the radar. At the same time lawmakers raised the age, they gave people with criminal convictions, regardless of their age, a chance to seal their records from public view.
"I think it's a bigger deal," Collins said. "The reality is this change will have broader effects upon society because there are tens of thousands of New Yorkers of all ages who will be helped by this change in the law."
This change in the law allows people who have not been arrested or convicted of a crime in 10 years to seal up to two past convictions. Collins, who worked with legislators on this issue as a member of the New York State Bar Association, said the change will help those with records get jobs, qualify for loans or move forward in life without the embarrassment of a criminal conviction.
"Or even just from a social stigma standpoint, from a psychological standpoint, people want to feel that they've changed," Collins said.
The records would be invisible in background checks, to private investigators and for public records searches, for example. Law enforcement would still have access.
The number of New Yorkers who would be eligible is unclear, though Collins and Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn), who was a major advocate for the change in the Assembly, said easily tens of thousands of people could apply.
NY state will soon allow 'thousands' with past crime convictions to seal records
But he said a major change to the criminal justice system has largely flown under the radar. At the same time lawmakers raised the age, they gave people with criminal convictions, regardless of their age, a chance to seal their records from public view.
"I think it's a bigger deal," Collins said. "The reality is this change will have broader effects upon society because there are tens of thousands of New Yorkers of all ages who will be helped by this change in the law."
This change in the law allows people who have not been arrested or convicted of a crime in 10 years to seal up to two past convictions. Collins, who worked with legislators on this issue as a member of the New York State Bar Association, said the change will help those with records get jobs, qualify for loans or move forward in life without the embarrassment of a criminal conviction.
"Or even just from a social stigma standpoint, from a psychological standpoint, people want to feel that they've changed," Collins said.
The records would be invisible in background checks, to private investigators and for public records searches, for example. Law enforcement would still have access.
The number of New Yorkers who would be eligible is unclear, though Collins and Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn), who was a major advocate for the change in the Assembly, said easily tens of thousands of people could apply.
NY state will soon allow 'thousands' with past crime convictions to seal records
