Seeking redemption: Expungement clinic offers second chance
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 1, 2018 10:42 PM
Ever since the city of Goldsboro began receiving grants earmarked to address poverty, community members have upped the ante to find ways to address the needs, says Shycole Simpson-Carter, community relations director.
"Everyone knows that criminal justice as well as criminal records are an impediment for low-income and people in poverty," she said.
She said she has been working with a committee on finding existing initiatives or ideas that can be developed to help residents, providing them with the skills needed to succeed in life.
One of the outgrowths of this was the 2018 Expungement Clinic held Saturday at the Wayne County Courthouse.
The Young Lawyers Division of the Wayne County Bar Association, along with other community partners, spearheaded the effort to assist eligible residents in clearing their criminal records.
A similar event was held last year, said Bre'Anna Van Hook, Teen Court director, but many had to be turned away because it was only open to those served by the Teen Court program.
"This year is the same process, but it's open to everyone," she said. "We have called everyone determined to be eligible. We also have a courtroom available for people who walk in or submit their applications."
The process included accepting applications to determine eligibility, with those who qualified scheduled with 20-minute appointments with a volunteer attorney and completing any necessary paperwork.
Eligible offenses fell under the category of non-violent misdemeanors such as minor drug offenses and larceny. Violent crimes, sex-related charges and traffic charges, including DWI convictions, were not eligible.
The lines formed early, said Superior Court Judge Will Bland, who arrived shortly before the 9 a.m. start time.
"I walked in and the place was packed," he said. "I wasn't expecting that."
He was there in support of the program rather than in an official capacity, he said, as his role does not permit him to preside over such cases.
The turnout demonstrated the "tremendous interest" from the community for such an effort.
Bland said he was also impressed with those who volunteered, from local attorneys and law enforcement to Butterball and Case Farms, also on hand accepting applications from potential employees.
Van Hook said she expected between 30 and 40 to take advantage of the appointments.
By mid-morning, 90 walk-ins had signed up to meet with a lawyer.
There were potential fees attached, but for some it was priceless.
Dennis Cox of Goldsboro was among the walk-ins.
He was there to get a 2015 charge expunged.
"I don't want it because I'm no bad person," he said. "I just wanted to get it off my record for when I come into my ministry -- I'm a minister in training."
The 57-year-old said he provided the required documents when he met with an attorney and a few minutes later, had accomplished what he set out to do.
"I just felt like shouting," he said as he exited. "It's not about myself. It's by the grace of God."
Kasthante Forte of Pikeville had a similar outcome.
Her charge, simple assault, dated back to 2010 and was long forgotten, she said.
"I really didn't pay any attention to it until last year," she said. "I went to apply for a job as a probation officer and got a background check and it showed up."
By then, she had earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
The setback prompted her to hire a lawyer but then she heard about the expungement clinic and decided to go that route.
"The charge was dismissed so all I had to do was fill out a petition," she said, explaining that now she just has to await the final dismissal. "It's like a relief."
Charles Raiford, chief probation and parole officer in Wayne County, was pleased with the response.
"It's amazing to know that we have been talking about doing this for two years, and it's finally here," he said. "The whole thing is to help the people in the community reintegrate and be the best that they can be.
"We just want to show people that we care. We want to assist how we can."
Another organizer, Tracy Moore Grimes, a prosecutor with the District Attorney's Office, said it had been quite an involved effort, but definitely addresses a need in this community.
"It's a very complex process," she said. "This is actually just the beginning. Some people still, we have to get their information submitted to the DA's office. We're just trying to do as much as we can to help citizens as best as we can.
"It's not a perfect process. Hopefully, people are appreciative of the work we're trying to do for them."
One example she shared was a man in his 40s with a charge dating back several years. He produced the required documentation, though, and seeing his reaction to having it expunged from his record made it all worth it, Grimes said.
"Just to see a smile on his face, he was kind of excited about it," she said.
Of course, not everyone walked away with the outcome they had hoped for, she said, but most of them were understanding and seemed genuinely appreciative, she said.
"I would probably say for the people who initially sent in their applications, maybe about 20 to 25 percent were actually eligible," she said, with even fewer on the walk-in side of things being eligible.
Raiford said this is not the end of the road for those folks or their future efforts.
He hasn't gotten an official plan in place, he said, but remains optimistic that there will be discussions about next steps.
"We just want to make a change for now and in the generations on down the line," he said.