Haneef Salaam is a Delaware resident advocating for others in his community with a record.
By Haneef Salaam
I left prison 21 years ago, determined to turn my life around after being locked up on and off for four years, first for drug charges, then for violating my probation.
Missing the birth of my first daughter was a turning point. That moment made it clear: I needed to choose a new path. I committed to becoming a present father and a supportive partner. Even though I was ready to do the right thing, trying to find a job was nearly impossible because 94% of employers still use background checks to screen out applicants with records.
Fortunately, I was able to secure employment and have been able to work helping others like me ever since — through roles in advocacy, education, direct services, and helping young adults from backgrounds like mine navigate barriers to education and employment so they can move forward with their lives.
I was part of the effort to successfully pass Clean Slate legislation here in Delaware that seals state records for people who have done their time and remained crime-free so we aren’t screened out from jobs, education and housing for the rest of our lives. We’re one of 12 states — red, blue and purple — and D.C., that have enacted this commonsense reform since 2018. But state legislation leaves a gap: Delawareans who have a federal record are not eligible for sealing under that law. Federal records are separate, and action is needed at the national level to address that gap, because over a million people in America with federal convictions are held back by records they’ve long since paid for.
The federal Clean Slate Act, S. 1580, championed by U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware, would fix that. The bill would create the first-ever federal process to automate the sealing of eligible federal records for individuals who have completed their sentences for qualifying non-violent offenses and remained crime-free.
Automated record sealing means no endless bureaucracy, no complicated paperwork, and no costly legal fees. It’s an efficient, common-sense solution that would help people to secure gainful employment, sustainably support their families, and contribute to their communities. We say we believe in second chances, and we’ve shown that here in Delaware. The Clean Slate Act is how we bring that value to the national stage.
The truth is, most people with a past arrest or conviction record take full responsibility for their mistakes and stay out of trouble for years after completing their sentences and fulfilling everything the courts required of them. Yet between 70 and 100 million adults in the U.S. – about 1 in 3 adults – still carry an old arrest or conviction record that hinders their success. Like me, many have worked hard to rebuild their lives, only to keep hitting barriers. This isn’t about giving anyone a free pass; it’s about ensuring that those who’ve already paid their debt have a real chance to reach their full potential.
Sealing a record isn’t just a personal victory; it strengthens communities and boosts the economy for all of us. Every year, the U.S. loses up to $87 billion in potential GDP due to the exclusion of qualified workers with records. Clean Slate laws expand the workforce, helping businesses find top talent and creating opportunities for workers to earn better wages. This puts more money in the pockets of American families, reduces reliance on government assistance, and helps break the cycle of poverty by enabling individuals to provide for themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
I am living proof that people can change when given the chance. Redemption should be honored with opportunity, not blocked by endless barriers. A second chance should be just that — a genuine opportunity to move forward. Unfortunately, for those living with past records, it often feels like the opposite is true.
It feels like we’ve been released, but never truly freed. Too often, it means carrying the burden of a past mistake into every job interview, housing application, and attempt to build something better. The federal Clean Slate Act is how we make second chances real, not just in words, but in policy. It’s time for Congress to act.
