No One In Hawai’i Should Be Defined By Their Record.
Clean Slate Hawaiʻi is a campaign to pass a record-shielding law for eligible Hawaiʻi residents who have paid for their past mistakes and remained crime-free for years.
Shield the Record, Remove the Barrier.
WHAT IS A CLEAN SLATE?
Clean Slate laws streamline the process of shielding eligible records for people who have paid for their past mistakes and remained crime-free for years.
When records are shielded, it means a past arrest or conviction no longer appears on background checks frequently used for jobs, housing, or school. It doesn’t erase the record: it removes it as a barrier that prevents people from working, rejoining their communities, and rebuilding their lives.
Right now, getting a low-level arrest or conviction record shielded in Hawaiʻi is difficult. A process exists to shield or “expunge” eligible records, but very few people can access it. That's because eligibility is narrow, and the process is complicated and costly. A Clean Slate law would change that.
When one person carries the burden of a record, our ʻohana and communities carry it, too.
Families
When a parent can work and provide, children are more stable. Clean Slate laws keep ʻohana together and support family rehabilitation.
Workforce
A Clean Slate law will strengthen our economy by expanding the workforce. It will help businesses find the most qualified, skilled employees and create opportunities for workers to compete for better-paying jobs.
Communities
When people can get back to work after completing everything the court ordered them to do, they can contribute to their communities. Record shielding reduces the likelihood that someone will reoffend and improves public safety.
1 In 4 Adults In Hawaiʻi Has A Record.
WHO IS IMPACTED?
Beyond a statistic, these people are our parents, aunties and uncles, keiki, neighbors, and friends.
They’ve paid for their past mistake and remained crime-free, but the stigma of their record stays with them and creates a barrier to accessing work, housing, and a path forward.
A Clean Slate law in Hawaiʻi will give people who have earned their second chance the opportunity to rejoin their communities and provide for their ʻohana.
National data shows that state-initiated record relief can improve family stability, health, and housing outcomes. Clean Slate laws enable people with records to contribute to their families and communities.
Photo courtesy of Hui Ho'iwai (2022).