The history of criminal expungement in state systems reflects America’s evolving view of rehabilitation and second chances. Early in the 20th century, most states had no formal expungement process, and a criminal record typically followed a person for life. As the consequences of permanent records became clear—blocking access to jobs, housing, and education—states began experimenting with mechanisms to seal or expunge certain convictions, usually for first-time or juvenile offenders.
By the 1960s and 1970s, reform movements gained momentum, and many states introduced expungement or record-sealing laws aimed at helping rehabilitated individuals reintegrate. These early statutes were often narrow, covering only low-level offenses and requiring long waiting periods. In the late 20th century, as mass incarceration swelled, advocates pushed for broader reforms, arguing that perpetual punishment undermined both justice and public safety.
Jeff Grant is the co-founder of Progressive Prison Ministries and the White Collar Support Group, the first organization of its kind dedicated to people navigating the aftermath of white collar prosecution. After serving time in federal prison himself, Grant rebuilt his life through faith, education, and service, earning a Master of Divinity and later regaining his law license. Drawing on his personal journey of redemption, he created a safe community where justice-impacted individuals and their families can find connection, resources, and encouragement. The White Collar Support Group meets weekly, offering a space for members to share experiences, reduce isolation, and begin the process of rebuilding. Under Grant’s leadership, the group has expanded its outreach to include advocacy, educational programs, and national conferences. His work highlights the transformative power of second chances, turning personal adversity into a mission of hope, dignity, and restoration for others walking a similar path.
In recent years, states across the country have launched ambitious felony expungement initiatives to expand opportunities for people burdened by criminal records. Traditionally, felony convictions were excluded from relief, leaving many individuals permanently blocked from jobs, housing, and education. However, growing recognition that lifelong punishment undermines rehabilitation has fueled reform. States like Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan have led the way with “Clean Slate” laws that automate expungement for certain offenses, removing the need for costly and confusing petitions.
Pennsylvania pioneered “Clean Slate” legislation in 2018, becoming the first state to automate the sealing of certain criminal records, including low-level misdemeanors and some nonviolent felony convictions after a waiting period. The initiative has since cleared millions of records, reducing barriers to employment and housing while serving as a national model for expungement reform.
Pardons through the Office of the President are currently the only way to erase a felony and President Donald Trump has used his pardon power more than any other president in recent history. However, the process, even under Trump, is cumbersome, takes considerable time and of the tens of thousands of applications that are received, few are granted.
Congress has made significant progress in reducing the time that inmates stay in prison through laws such as the First Step Act and Second Chance Act. Grant saw this as an opportunity to try pushing for reform and set up a virtual conference with the sponsorship of the law firm Paul Weiss.
The White Collar Conference 2025, will be held virtually on October 11, 2025, brings together justice-impacted individuals, families, advocates, and professionals for a morning of connection and hope. Hosted by Grant’s White Collar Support Group, the theme “Starting Over: Hope & Restoration” captured the spirit of the gathering. For many participants, the event is more than a conference—it is a reminder that no one has to face the challenges of the justice system alone.
Grant told me in an interview that there is a need for new initiatives such as the Federal Expungement Initiative, the Right to Banking campaign, and the development of state-by-state pardon and expungement guides. Grant said, “These efforts reflect our mission to restore dignity and create pathways for second chances across the nation.”
The conference features an agenda of speakers and panels. Renowned legal journalist Jeffrey Toobin will be the keynote, offering perspective on justice, mercy, and the complexities of the legal system. Toobin recently authored the book ‘The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy.’ Another session will feature the father of Sam Bankman-Friend, Joe Bankman, who will talk about his family’s own experience with facing lengthy prison terms. Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is in prison after being convicted of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering for misusing billions of dollars in customer funds. Prosecutors argued he diverted deposits to cover trading losses and fund personal ventures, making his case one of the largest financial frauds in recent history.
Beyond these speakers, Grant has put together thought leaders to present ideas on expungement including; Mark Osler, law professor, former federal prosecutor, and nationally recognized advocate for sentencing and clemency reform; Rachel Barkow, who is a leading legal scholar and criminal justice reform advocate. She serves as a professor at New York University School of Law; and Doug Berman, who is a law professor and one of the nation’s leading experts on criminal sentencing and policy. He holds the Newton D. Baker-Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, where he also serves as Executive Director of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. Berman is widely known for founding and managing the influential Sentencing Law and Policy blog, a go-to resource for courts, practitioners, and policymakers on developments in criminal law.
Congress will have to get involved in any action leading to expungement, and while it has tried to initiate action, it has failed to put any new law in place. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to create a pathway for federal criminal expungement, though none have become law. The Fresh Start Act of 2022 proposed expunging certain nonviolent federal offenses, while the Weldon Angelos Act sought expungement for pardoned convictions. The bipartisan Begin Again Act would expand expungement for first-time simple drug possession cases, and the MORE Act includes provisions to clear certain marijuana offenses. These efforts reflect growing bipartisan interest in second chances, but federal law still offers very limited options, leaving pardons and narrow statutory provisions as the primary forms of record relief today.
Let’s see if Grant and his new initiatives can move the ball a bit further.
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