The City of Lexington will hold an expungement clinic October 31st at Central Bank Center. At a news conference Monday afternoon, Mayor Linda Gorton explained it’s designed to help people overcome barriers to employment, housing and education by expunging misdemeanors and non-violent felonies from their criminal record. One participant in the clinic will be Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, which is where Bethanie Mettling does pro bono legal work.
“One of the biggest advantages we see for our clients that expunge their criminal record includes removing a barrier to safe and affordable housing. expungements are also critical because they allow individuals to access more job opportunities.”
Over the past several years, new state laws have made it easier for people to expunge misdemeanors and non-violent felonies and cities like Lexington have helped residents do just that. Gorton spoke about a conversation she had at a previous clinic.
“I was leaving, and a gentleman came up to me and he said, ‘I didn't make an appointment. But can someone see me, because I have four children I need to feed. And I don't know how I'm going to do without a job.’”
Partners at Clean Slate Lexington include Commerce Lexington, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, U-K’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, Chase Bank and WORK Lexington. There’ll also be “do it yourself” expungement advice. For more information or to register, go to www.lexingtonky.gov/expungement.
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