Whether it's obtaining a home or landing a job, there are numerous challenges for people leaving incarceration. The challenges can leave a person without any real prospects.

There is a stigma surrounding having a prison record, but some state lawmakers are looking to help through the sealing of some convictions.

Demar Neal served his time and after four years in prison, thought he was headed home. He says he was mistaken.

“I thought the sentence was me paying my debt to society. I thought that was my punishment. That’s what was told to me," Neal said. "So to come home and now I have this extra sentence...it’s like double jeopardy.”

Finding work with three kids to support has been a challenge because of mistakes from his past.

“I tried to get a job for Amazon," Neal said. "They run the background check and my criminal past comes up. And they send me some email and they send me actual documentation in the mail, telling me, unfortunately, we can’t hire you.”

Social justice advocates are trying to ease the burden on people like Neal. They’re calling on lawmakers to pass the Clean Slate Act. If passed into law, it would seal conviction records so formerly incarcerated people who served their time wouldn’t face potential discrimination and harassment when returning back into society.

A study in Michigan, where a similar law was passed, found formerly incarcerated people were 11% more likely to earn a job and earn 25% more in income.

Katie Schaffer, director of advocacy and organizing for the Center for Community Alternatives, said not being able to find housing or work affects more than those who are trying to rebuild their lives.

“This is both an issue for individual people but also their families," Schaffer said. "If people can’t obtain good jobs, people can’t obtain good housing. Then that impacts not just them, but their children and the elders they care for and their broader community.”

Republicans in Albany have opposed the bill, saying it hurts public safety and removes the consequences of committing a crime.

Demar hopes the law gets passed. He says no one should have to face what he has had to go through after serving his sentence.

“As someone who’s been incarcerated and around individuals who’ve been incarcerated, and I see them change in their life and trying to do the right thing in life, clean slate is a no-brainer,” he said.

The Clean Slate Act is currently in committee in both the state Assembly and Senate.