by Nedrick Miller, Ronald “Elder” Freeman Policy Fellow
The goal of Clean Slate is to get prior offenders or those formerly incarcerated to make efforts to expunge their records, so each individual can move on in their lives. Those that qualify for this expungement can, after removal, apply for jobs or opportunities that previously would have not been allowed due to past history. In this framework, lawyers provide their clients assistance by supporting and leading the administrative process of filing for expungement.
LSPC hosted this Clean Slate event at Sacramento State University in partnership with Project Rebound, Northern California Lawyers, and Tribal Lawyers representing Native Americans. With the help of live-scan, fingerprint technology which allows users to receive their rap sheet, we were able to offer support to 25 attendees—all with hope of removing the carceral system’s hold on their lives.
I think most never think about the outcomes of those impacted by a curved history, the results of a never ending cycle due to the mistakes many make at a time of desperation or immaturity. The Clean Slate event allowed me to view the consequences of those imprisoned by a carceral system that really does not believe in change, forgiveness and hope, opening the gates to physical freedom while knowing the barriers of stigma won’t allow many to move forward. One after another, each attenddee revealed their story of wanting opportunity. When those chances arrived, society stripped them of their dignity and barred reconciliation with who they once were.
Through this event, LSPC and Project Rebound offered hope and a chance to succeed by merit. This offering was motivated through the wisdom of lived experience.
At the event, I got to see hope in many attendees’ eyes. I imagine that for each of them, it was self realization with understanding and the solution of finally breaking a cycle. I think the work of LSPC and sister orgs sometimes goes overlooked because many do not realize: opening the door for some, is actually opening the door for the many.
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