Comments for Erasing the Past

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Produced by Hana Baba, Ben Trefny

Other pieces by Hana Baba

Summary: A look at San Francisco's "Clean Slate" program, which can erase a former convict's criminal records.
 

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Review of Erasing the Past

This is a very well written, tightly produced news feature with a human interest appeal. Narrator Hana Baba has a good radio voice, and makes nice use of actualities from the public defender and some of the offenders. The "clean slate" program enables persons who have served time for some crimes to have their criminal record expunged. The story becomes more poignant when it is revealed that the public defender is herself an ex-offender. The pacing of the piece is excellent, and it is tightly edited and well mixed. There is a nice opening setup by Holly Kernan. Overall, this is a very good public affairs piece that would fit well in a news magazine format.