The 2026 Second Chance Index
How New York ranks for second chances
New York ranks 12th of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 76 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 14.5 points above the median state (61.5).
Built from New York's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
76 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 46 / 50
- Voting rights
- 22 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 8 / 20
Every point New York earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about New York, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
46 of 50 points| What we score | New York | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Some records clear automatically | 15/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | Yes | 3/3 |
Voting rights
22 of 30 points| What we score | New York | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | After prison | 22/30 |
Where the felony line falls
8 of 20 points| What we score | New York | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | Over $1,000 | 5/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 2nd offense | 3/10 |
Where the 24 missing points are
- 8When the vote comes back after a felony: After prison
- 7Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 2nd offense
- 5Theft becomes a felony at: Over $1,000
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean New York offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near New York
- #10California77
- #11Michigan76.5
- #12New York76
- #13Nevada75.5
- #14North Dakota73.5
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How New York ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/new-york, checked October 29, 2026.