Criminal convictions can affect people's working lives and chances of finding safe and suitable housing for decades to come, even when the charges were minor and put no one in harm's way.
This winter, Pennsylvania became the first state in the country to enact a “Clean Slate" law, which seals low-level, non-violent conviction information after 10 years, presuming associated fines and fees are also paid. Advocates say they hope the legislation will be a model for other jurisdictions. Tuesday's guests include:
- Tracey Lewis, adjunct professor at Duquesne University School of Law and teacher at the Civil Rights Clinic;
- Barbara Griffin, adjunct professor at Duquesne Law, teacher at the Civil Rights Clinic and director of the Pro Bono Center at the Allegheny County Bar Foundation; and,
- Jamie Gullen, attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is recruiting volunteers to assist with the Clean Slate Record Clearing Project. Find more information here.
Elsewhere in the program, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik says that despite limited resources and evolving standards for daily news, most outlets still provided the public with “the best possible journalism they could” in 2018.
He explores the highs and lows of national media last year, covering the #MeToo movement and the challenges unique to the Pittsburgh market.
Folkenflik, who also hosts WBUR's national program “On Point,” will be a keynote guest at the Media Innovators Speaker Series at the Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University next Tuesday. Tickets are available here.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators join veteran journalist Kevin Gavin, taking an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
