Free Record Examinations to celebrate Second Chance Month

April is 2nd Chance Month, and Soteria is celebrating the men and women we serve who are working to thrive after incarceration by serving our community of previously incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to find out if their records may be expunged.

Expungements remove the record of an arrest or conviction so that the offense no longer appears on a criminal record/rap sheet. Once records are expunged, citizens are able to apply for education, employment, and housing that they could not access with their criminal backgrounds. The expungement process can be overwhelming and confusing for those who may be eligible. People need to understand the requirements for eligibility, the process for obtaining expungements, and the costs associated.

On average, an expungement costs $310 per charge, and most individuals face several charges.

Soteria is hosting a Record Examination Day on April 11th from 9am - 4pm that is free to the public. We will start the process to find out if records are eligible for expungement, and for those who qualify, we will help to pay for up to 50% of the fees through our Expungement Fund. Drop in anytime from 9am - 4pm, and we will assist you. Appointments are not required, but we do request that you let us know you are coming so that we have enough staff on hand to meet the demand.

Help us spread the word to anyone who may be eligible, and let us know if you plan to come.