Have you been rejected from a job because of your criminal background? Have you ever tried to have your background officially cleared? Have you heard about Minnesota’s new Clean Slate law and wondered how and whether it will work? We want to hear from you! Join us for a listening session and be a part of critical, community-based research about the implementation and effectiveness of the Minnesota's new Clean Slate law.

About the project:

The consequences of a criminal record can be devastating. Private sector criminal background checks are widely used to screen applicants for housing, employment, and volunteering opportunities. A law in 2024 sought to address this discrimination: “Clean Slate” was enacted by the Minnesota State legislature to automatically seal many criminal records. But the extent to which these companies comply with the new law is unknown. At the Minnesota Justice Research Center, we want to know… Is the law working? Are private companies complying? Are people experiencing the impact?

Learn more at mnjrc.org/background-checks.

About the listening sessions:

In the late summer and fall of 2025, MNJRC is conducting listening sessions with community members like you to improve our understanding of the day-to-day experiences of criminal backgrounds and expungements on Minnesotans. Here's what you can expect:

facilitated dialogue circles
connections to resources for more information about Clean Slate
time to connect with other community members
coffee + refreshments

This is a child-friendly event. Come as you are. RSVP strongly encouraged.

Questions? Reach out to mackenzie@mnjrc.org.

Community Listening Session: A Reality Check on Background Checks