Boyle expungement fair to help area residents clear their records
Published 8:49 pm Tuesday, June 11, 2019
A free event to give people information on how to have their criminal record expunged is scheduled for the second time in Boyle County.
Companies who hire individuals with a record will also be on site.
The expungement fair will be 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, at Danville Church of God, located at 516 S. Fourth St. A free meal will be served and no registration is required.
Attorneys with the Justice Bus, a new service of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, will also be on hand to assist low-income families to resolve civil legal issues they are facing, such as family problems, domestic violence protective orders, assistance with housing issues, Medicare and Medicaid, public and government benefits, life planning documents and veteran issues.
To make an appointment on the Justice Bus for June 13, call (859) 431-8200. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Matt Aaron with the DOC and an active member of the local ASAP, said the expungement fair is “something that’s needed.” Being able to have a criminal record erased will help a person find better employment opportunities, Aaron said.
At the expungement fair, people will fill out a form and have an uncertified copy of their criminal record printed out to take to an attorney at the fair. There will also be a short presentation explaining the expungement process. And attorneys will meet with individuals and determine if that person is eligible to have their record expunged, Aaron said.
If someone’s record does qualify for expungement, the attorney will explain the next steps that need to be taken to complete the process.
The event is open to anyone from Boyle and its surrounding counties, Aaron said. But if their crimes were not committed in Boyle County, they’ll have to go to where their record is filed for the expungement process to begin, he added.
Also at the expungement fair, information will be available about how to restore voting rights; support for drug and alcohol recovery; and job training and job-search assistance.
Justice Bus attorney Karen Gimm said having a criminal record expunged removes barriers for that person’s chance of finding a better paying job. Being able to “clean up” someone’s resumé allows that person to have a higher level job, earn higher wages, “and be a more active participant in our society.”
Partners hosting the expungement fair include Goodwill Industries, Boyle County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, Hope Network, Kentucky Career Center Vocation Rehabilitation and the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
For more information contact Kathy Miles at kathy.miles@centre.edu or Erica Sluder at erica.sluder@goodwillky.org.