Governor Meyer Announces 64,000 Cases Cleared in Clean Slate Automation

DOVER - Governor Matt Meyer today announced that Delaware has initiated its first automated batch of Clean Slate cases, clearing more than 64,000 eligible cases from public-facing criminal background checks and marking a major step forward in the State's implementation of Delaware's Clean Slate law. That single batch is more than three times the number of Clean Slate cases processed in 2025, demonstrating the importance of automation when trying to clear a backlog of more than one million cases.

For over a year, there has been a coordinated effort among the Office of the Governor, the State Bureau of Identification, the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS), the courts, and other partners to move Delaware from a manual case-by-case process toward the automated record-clearance system envisioned by the General Assembly.

"The goal of our criminal justice system is not to punish people; it is to change their behavior and give them the tools to succeed when they reenter society. People should not be defined by their worst mistakes, and a low-level conviction should not be an automatic ticket to a life with roadblocks," said Governor Matt Meyer. "Thanks to the hard work of all three branches of government, we have completed the first batch of automated cases. We still have more work to do, but we are making real progress toward a more modern and efficient system that reduces barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities for Delawareans who have earned their second chance."

Governor Meyer expressed his gratitude to the SBI team, DELJIS, and the courts for their partnership on Clean Slate automation and for their other hard work on Clean Slate. Since Clean Slate went live, they have carefully cleared approximately 20,000 eligible cases.

Delaware's Clean Slate Act, enacted by the General Assembly in 2021, requires eligible cases for low-level offenses to be cleared automatically, without requiring individuals to file petitions or pay fees. The law was intended to reduce barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities for Delawareans whose records are eligible for relief.

Implementing that vision requires more than simply identifying eligible cases. It requires agencies to coordinate data, validate eligibility, test and refine automated batches, protect against errors, and ensure that records are removed from public access while preserving lawful access for authorized criminal justice purposes where the law permits.

"DELJIS is proud to support Governor Meyer, SBI, the Courts, and our justice partners in moving Clean Slate from a manual process to automated processing at scale," said Dominic Carretto, Executive Director of the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System. "This milestone reflects the importance of accurate data, interagency coordination, and careful safeguards."

"The Office of Defense Services applauds the work of Governor Meyer and his team in coordinating and implementing Clean Slate automation in Delaware," said Kevin O'Connell, Chief Defender of the Delaware Office of Defense Services (ODS). "ODS has devoted significant time, effort, and resources to determining expungement eligibility for thousands of individuals whose records should have been automatically cleared by the Clean Slate Act. This new automated process will bring relief to many Delawareans who will now be able to access better education, jobs, housing, and other opportunities, contributing to stronger, safer communities across the state. Automation will also enable ODS to focus its limited resources on supporting second-chance relief efforts for deserving individuals who do not qualify for expungement through the Clean Slate Act."

"We applaud this first step in automated clearance, and we look forward to seeing our state come up to speed and work through its backlog," said Meryem Dede, Executive Director of Tide Shift Justice Project. "This first step couldn't have been possible without so many agencies, advocates, and stakeholders working together, and we are thankful to the Governor's Office and others who are devoting so much time to fixing Clean Slate implementation."

The State will now continue the remaining clearance steps for this first batch, including notices to courts and other agencies that maintain related records, so those records can be removed from public inspection or otherwise handled consistent with Delaware law.

The Governor's Office will also continue working with SBI, DELJIS, and the courts to identify, validate, and process additional automated batches. The administration's goal is to clear the bulk of the current Clean Slate backlog by August.

If you have a criminal record and are interested in applying for an expungement or pardon, contact the APEX program or the Office of Defense Services at the links below.
• APEX program: https://www.cognitoforms.com/DEDepartmentOfLaborDivisionOfEmploymentTraining/APEXEligibilityForm

• Office of Defense Services: https://ods.delaware.gov/expungements/#contact

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.