Clean Slate Initiative Aims to Modernize CORI System

October 18, 2023

Earlier this week PHIWM joined over 50 advocates from across the state for a Clean Slate Strategic Planning & Action Summit. This day-long meeting was laser-focused on crafting a strategy and divvying up work to pass state legislation that would modernize Massachusetts’ Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) system. People who have been involved with the criminal legal system in Massachusetts face significant barriers when it comes to sealing their CORIs even when they are eligible. People with unsealed CORI’s are affected negatively when trying to access jobs, housing, education, training, and other opportunities essential to their overall well-being and successful reentry into their communities. The Clean Slate Initiative estimates that this legislation would benefit and improve the lives of at least 462,000 people in the Commonwealth by automatically sealing CORIs as soon as they are eligible. Currently, only 4% of people eligible have been able to navigate the complex petition-based sealing process—one that often requires the help of an attorney.


We are an active member of the statewide Clean Slate Massachusetts coalition. If you would like to get involved in Clean Slate Western MA, please contact PHIWM Policy Director Andrea Freeman.


PHIWM’s focus on this legislation builds on the health impact assessment we conducted in 2021 with the help of Live Well Springfield and many community partners. We are grateful to the Point32 Health Foundation for their financial support of this work.​​​​​


The Summit was sponsored by Clean Slate Massachusetts, the Clean Slate Initiative, and Roxbury Community College’s Criminal Justice Program. Participants from Western MA were PHIWM’s Project Coordinator Jacqueline Velez and Andrea Freeman; Men of Color Health Awareness’ (MOCHA) Lead Facilitator Brother Al Hubert, and Live Well Springfield Resident Advisor Sonia Mendez.

MOCHA’s Brother Al summarizes plans that the Organizing Committee of Clean Slate Massachusetts discussed at the Summit.

share this

Related Articles

Recording and Materials Now Available, Fighting for Air Webinar

June 27, 2025
Access webinar materials from the June 25, 2025 webinar, Fighting for Air: Updates on the proposed biomass plant in Springfield : Recording Slides This webinar featured: State Senator Adam Gomez Attorney Michael Fenton, Springfield City Council President Rusty Polsgrove, Associate Director, Arise for Social Justice Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Health Sarita Hudson, Senior Director of Strategy and Development, Public Health Institute of Western MA Learn more about the bills discussed in the webinar: An Act to remove woody biomass from the greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants An Act limiting the eligibility of woody biomass as an alternative energy supply Written testimony can be submitted via email to Benjamin Minerva at Ben.Minerva@masenate.gov and Caleb Oakes at Caleb.Oakes@mahouse.gov . When submitting written testimony, please send it as an attachment and use the following document title format: Bill# - Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose. View some of the media coverage of the event: Webinar held to address possible Springfield biomass plant, Western Mass News, 6/25/25 Battle over proposed Springfield biomass plant rages on, New England Public Media, 6/26/25 Foes, officials won’t shrink from fight to keep ‘Frankenstein’ plant out of city, The Republican, 6/26/25

Just Treatment and Meaningful Involvement of All People

June 18, 2025
Putting Resources Into Practice

Upcoming Webinar About Proposed Biomass Plant

June 6, 2025
Fighting For Air: Updates on the proposed biomass plan in Springfield