ON NEW YORK'S NEW "SEALING RULE"

In today's Newsday, the main story discussed a new state law aimed at giving nonviolent offenders a clean slate. As of October 7, 2017, New York courts may expunge eligible offenses under Section 160.59 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

The Law Offices of Robert Briere, a ​New York City Criminal Defense Lawyer,  ​30 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, had noted on their web site that CPL 160.05 was not the only statute dealing with the sealing of criminal records:

"Remember that CPL 160.59 requires a ten year waiting period before the conviction can be sealed. So, in the meantime, what records can be sealed in New York before the ten year period has run?

Prior to the ten year period running, a record of a criminal conviction, which is any misdemeanor or felony except a youthful offender adjudication, cannot be sealed and is considered a public record available to anyone through the OCA website for a $55 fee. It does not matter if the person had the charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor or only received probation. There are no exceptions to the rule.

In New York, the only records that get completely sealed outside of the provisions of CPL 160.59 (pursuant to CPL 160.50) are cases that result in complete dismissals including:

ACD's and other forms of dismissals and acquittals. whenever a case is fully dismissed either through an ACD an acquittal after trial or if the case is dismissal in the interests of justice for dismissed for facial insufficiency...whatever the reason for the dismissal... these get the full sealing treatment of CPL 160.50. On the other hand, charges that are reduced from a misdemeanor or felony to a violation or infraction get the partial seal treatment of CPL 160.55.

How does sealing of a New York Record differ between CPL 160.59 and CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.55?

A sealing under CPL 160.59 occurs upon application of a person with two or less criminal convictions and no more than one felony conviction (that are at least ten years old) pursuant to the process outlined above. A sealing under 160.50 occurs in New York when a criminal charge is dismissed completely, while a sealing under 160.55 occurs when a criminal charge is reduced from a misdemeanor or felony to a violation or infraction.

A sealing under CPL 160.50 is the most favorable of the three since the 160.50 sealing mandates destruction of the arrest record and the sealing of the court file. A sealing under 160.55 is not as comprehensive as the 160.50 sealing. The 160.55 sealing occurs when someone is arrested or charged with a criminal offense, but is ultimately convicted of a violation or infraction, the sealing of the arrest records is accomplished pursuant to CPL 160.55 (1) (c), which means that records of the arrest, such as mugshots, arrest reports and fingerprints are destroyed but the Court file stays open.

The CPL 160.59 is a hybrid of the 160.50 and the 160.55 as is allows for the court file to be sealed but the arrest records remain unsealed." ​