BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tyrell Ford, executive director of Voice Buffalo, a racial justice and equity organization, is also a supporter of the Clean Slate Act, which was passed by the state legislature and signed into law last year.

Certain criminal records will soon be sealed in New York, meaning those who've been incarcerated no longer have to ask their records be sealed and can freely seek employment, housing and educational opportunities.

Murder, sex crimes and non-drug related Class A felonies will not be sealed under the law. 

"People just want to be seen as a human and not because of their record or what their past was," said Ford.

Like Ford, who was arrested in 2010 after getting into a fight. He was convicted of felony assault and sentenced to six months in the Erie County Holding Center.

"What's running through my mind is, my life's over. I don't know how I'm going to rebound from this. What is going to be my next steps after all this is over," he said.

"This is a step forward in New York State," said Thomas Gant, community organizer, Center for Community Alternatives.

Gant says Ford and more than two million others will have their records sealed as the state now has until November 2027 to seal records now eligible and set up an automatic process. That includes a waiting period of three years after a conviction or release from prison for a misdemeanor and eight years for a felony.

Gant helped champion the measure, which he says will build the workforce and boost the state economy.

"Game changer. It was a long, hard fight. This gives hope. People can go out and say I can now actually try to apply for this job, to get my family to a better place in life," he said.

Ford brought his family to rallies supporting the measure and will be one of the first eligible to get his record sealed. 

"We have a better outcome on our life and being able to potentially get better jobs, housing and just quality of life, because our families are also impacted," said Ford.

On the other hand, Sen. George Borrello says none of his GOP colleagues supported it.

"This bill is too broad, too vague, and goes too far," said Borrello.

Some opponents argue the law makes people less safe by preventing some employers and landlords from seeing records.

Borrello says the process should not be automatic, and removes liability from big business if someone hired commits another crime. He also said he and his wife have hired people in the past with prior criminal convictions, and has done so knowing fully what their past was like.

"I have no problem giving someone a second chance. And I've done it. I just don't talk the talk, I walk the walk as a small business owner that has done so," said Borrello.

Ford got his old job back after his release, turning his mistake into a teachable moment.

"Although I do regret my circumstances from my past, it also helped encourage me to be better as a human, as a person," said Ford.

Under the law, employers can still access sealed records for necessary and relevant purposes like when hiring people to work with children, older adults or vulnerable people. 

Law enforcement can also access criminal records during their hiring process.