Criminal Expungement Full Representation Training

Transcript:Criminal Expungement Full Representation Training:
Criminal Expungement Full Representation Training Elizabeth Fowlds Program Manager and Resource Attorney Roadmap Why do you volunteer? Why do we need criminal expungements? What does an expungement do? How do you help someone do it? VLN – Client Services Legal Advice Resource Attorney and volunteer attorneys Over the phone Not income based Looking for more volunteers! Drafting petitions and fee waivers Second Chance Saturday Clinic Ramsey Law Library clinic Not income based, walk-ins only Drafting, Filing, Serving Dorsey/US Bank Clinic Via Zoom 300% FPG and below Full Representation 200% FPG and below VLN – Attorney Services Training! Full Representation Last Friday every other month Next Training: August 30, 2024 at noon Criminal Records Last Friday every other month Next Training: September 27, 2024 at noon Have recordings for: Phone Advice Training Support Answer all questions Review petitions Preparation for hearings Why do this work? Pro bono hours Not really complicated Helping single parents obtain employment for their kids Helping people obtain housing You get to meet some of the most resilient people Get to dip your toe into litigation Get to appear in court Something totally different from the law you practice Work with people from all backgrounds Making it so someone can get that promotion they deserve Why do we need criminal expungement? Societal exclusion due to criminal history Employment: Any record, even arrest, can impact hiring decision Housing: Scarcity of affordable housing means landlords can be picky about who to rent to Other areas of life: Coaching, volunteering at kids’ school, community service, visiting incarcerated family members or family members on military bases, etc. Systemic racism in the criminal justice system Keeps people in poverty Expungement is the means to help people overcome these barriers despite past mistakes or lifestyles Expungement! What does it do? Can seal all records... (will not come up in background checks, licensing, etc.) ...Or it can seal only judicial records (basically, only the public can't see it) Sealing does not equal destroying! There are situations where an expunged case can be seen/used Expunged records can be viewed and shared among “criminal justice agencies” when investigating or prosecuting a crime Records can be used by law enforcement agencies against applicants for employment in the agencies Here are those situations... Types of Expungement 1. Arrest-only expungement* Only requires a letter sent to the BCA 2. Statutory Expungement – Minn. Stat. 609A* Seals all records, case