Wiping the slate clean of youthful mistakes

Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters is hosting a free Juvenile Expungement Clinic on July 16 to provide legal services to area youths, said Brittany Waldman, recruiter and events coordinator.

The clinic’s purpose is to help anyone who qualifies to expunge their records or to help them successfully complete their diversion programs, Waldman said.

To qualify for the expungement program, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 24 and have had some type of contact with the juvenile justice system, Waldman said. They cannot, however, have any adult convictions.

The clinic is part of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Face Forward program, which was established to serve those in the community who have been in touch with the juvenile justice system and provide them with mentoring, educational support, employment opportunities and free legal services, Waldman said.

“We’re framing it as ‘Delete your past mistakes and face forward,’ ” Waldman said.

At the clinic, participants will meet with Face Forward staff to learn how the expungement process works and how to sign up. Representatives from Kansas Legal Services will be available to answer questions, Waldman said.

Following the clinic, all cases will be analyzed, and someone from Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters will contact applicants to let them know whether they qualify for the expungement.

“It’s a really great opportunity for young adults of our community to get a fresh start and do something better,” Waldman said.

The Face Forward program is funded by a grant from the Department of Labor. The clinic and any services provided through the program are free to participants, Waldman said.

Waldman said people who are unsure whether they qualify or even have a record can attend the clinic to find out. Participants do not need to bring any paperwork, but those under the age of 18 are asked to bring their legal guardian if possible, Waldman said.

“We’re really just trying to get anybody and everybody in the door,” Waldman said. “We’re encouraging everybody with any type of juvenile record to come because (the majority of the time), it’s probably expungeable.”

This story was originally published June 19, 2016 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Wiping the slate clean of youthful mistakes."