Indianapolis hosting criminal history expungement clinic this weekend

INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning a brand new chapter could be troublesome with the burden of prison historical past. Nevertheless, this Saturday, folks considering having their document expunged can take the primary steps at a free occasion.

“Let’s get this out of your method in order that nobody can use this towards you by regulation,” Carlette Duffy, Deputy Director of Programming for The Workplace of Public Well being and Security stated.

Duffy is strolling proof of success after a prison historical past. She obtained her document expunged and is now able to assist others.

“I labored for the state on the time, I made $7.15 an hour they usually advised me I made an excessive amount of to obtain meals stamps for simply me and my daughter,” Duffy stated. “I did not know the place to transcend that. I used to be like, ‘I do not know what to do.’ So, I did what I did, and sadly, it took two years of my life.”

On January 28, 1997, Duffy was arrested and convicted of drug prices.

“I used to be younger. A single mother with my very own baby, however then additionally care for 3 youngsters belonging to my older siblings,” Duffy stated. “I didn’t know my sources. I did not know the place to seek out sources.”

A criminal offense that would have granted her 20 years behind bars. Duffy solely served two years and one yr of at-home detention.

“Again then, it was virtually not possible to seek out employment that will pay you a residing wage,” Duffy stated.

Duffy says she needed to work a number of jobs simply to attempt to attain her objectives.

A troublesome highway, that lastly eased up a bit, in 2014. When Indiana Code 35-38-9 expanded legal guidelines permitting conviction data to be sealed or expunged.

“We went from being one of many extra aggressive states because it pertains to expungement to being essentially the most progressive state,” Duffy stated.
That felony cost holding Duffy again was expunged in 2015 permitting her to lastly begin her new chapter.

Now, she has her grasp’s diploma and is the deputy director of programming for OPHS, serving to others with prison data get a second probability.

Saturday’s clinic would be the second one this yr serving to Hoosiers with a prison historical past expunge or seal their historical past.

“Having individuals who consider in why you are doing it, have your again who’ve your greatest curiosity,” Duffy stated.

The expungement clinic is obtainable by the Workplace of Public Well being and Security and the Neighborhood Christian authorized clinic from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, on the JTV Hill Group Heart situated at 1806 Columbia Ave.