Conviction Sealing

The City of Albany in partnership with community service providers and organizations is hosting a second Conviction Sealing Clinic & Community Resource Fair. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 from 1pm to 7pm at the STEAM Garden located at 279 Central Avenue, Albany, NY, 12206.

Thank you for your interest in Conviction Sealing. The 2023 Conviction Sealing and Community Resource Fair is closed. To stay tuned about future events, please visit this page for updates.

Conviction sealing allows people who have been convicted of certain offenses to seal their old conviction. A sealed conviction ensures that your record is confidential from employers, housing agencies, and other groups. For more information about conviction sealing please see the graphic below. For questions please email conviction sealing.

Volunteer attorneys were present at this event and completed a one hour Conviction Sealing Clinic CLE prior to providing services in order to review everything attorneys needed to know about putting a sealing application together for a client. In addition to CLE credit, volunteer attorneys accumulated pro bono hours for their time at the clinic. 

New York Sealing Statutes and CPL §160.59

What is NY’s Sealing Law?

In 2017, New York State passed a law (CPL 160.59) allowing people who have been convicted of certain offenses to seal their old conviction. A sealed conviction ensures that your record is confidential from employers, housing agencies, and other groups. You can seal up to two misdemeanors or one misdemeanor and one felony. 

Who is Eligible?

• You have only one or two criminal convictions. Youthful adjudications, juvenile delinquency adjudications are not convictions, AND;
• You have no more than one felony conviction, AND;
• You have no open criminal cases, AND;
• At least 10 years have passed since you were sentenced for your last criminal conviction or since you were last released from incarceration, AND;
• You are not required to register as a sex offender under New York State law.

What are the benefits of Conviction Sealing?

• Improved housing, employment, and educational opportunities
• Pay raises and promotions
• Better access to professional licenses or loans to start a business

Pro Bono Opportunity

At the first City of Albany Conviction Sealing Clinic & Community Resource Fair, volunteer attorneys joined City attorneys to provide conviction sealing support to community members, accumulating pro bono hours for their time at the clinic. Attorneys interested in accumulating pro bono hours and assisting with conviction sealing efforts can sign-up here to volunteer at the second City of Albany Conviction Sealing Clinic & Community Resource Fair.

CLE Opportunity

Volunteer attorneys present at the event will complete a one hour Conviction Sealing Clinic CLE prior to providing services provided by The Albany Law School Center for Continuing Legal Education in order to review everything attorneys needed to know about putting a sealing application together for a client. Attorneys will receive one CLE credit for completion of the New York Sealing Statute and CPL §160.59 CLE. 

Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an accredited provider of Continuing Legal Education in the State of New York.  

The program has been accredited as a source of one continuing legal education credit for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys in New York State. 

For financial hardship guidelines, please call the Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888. 

Accommodation: We welcome requests for accommodation due to a disability.  Please contact Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888 at least a week prior to the course to discuss your requirements.

Note: New York State Continuing Legal Education Board regulations state that credit shall be awarded only for attendance at an entire course or program, or for attendance at an entire session of a course or program.  No credit shall be awarded for attending a portion of a course or a portion of a session.