Sealed Arrests Create Prosecutor Blindspots

Sealing arrest records (automatic sealing after favorable dispositions or under 'clean slate' rules) can prevent prosecutors and judges from seeing a defendant’s full arrest history at post‑arrest stages, making repeat offenders more likely to be treated as first‑time offenders. That gap pushes important safety information into leaks or press reports and reduces public accountability for release decisions. — This reframes record‑sealing from a solely rehabilitation/privacy policy into an institutional design problem with measurable effects on risk assessment, prosecutorial discretion, and democratic oversight.