Urban League partners with the community to provide hope with expungement events

The largest expungement event in Oklahoma’s history happened last year in Oklahoma City, and it demonstrated the need for continued opportunities for people to overcome the setbacks of involvement with the criminal justice system.

Justice-involved individuals often need support to understand the laws prohibiting them from finding employment after incarceration. In Oklahoma, non-violent offenses can be expunged, but the process is often long and expensive. The goal of Urban League’s Expungement Expo events is to help folks move beyond the challenges of having a past criminal record through education and access. It is vital to help justice-involved individuals understand current and new policies to assist them in this process.

According to research, an African American male in Oklahoma is five times more likely to have faced incarceration or had some brush with the judicial system. Urban League supports people of all identities move forward from their past. There is a decent population in Oklahoma who have something on their record preventing them from getting the kind of job, housing, or quality of life they want. Identifying this challenge and finding a way to address it has been a collaborative and important effort as we invest in a city where individuals feel supported in creating meaningful lives.   

The first-ever Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City Expungement Expo happened last April and had a total attendance of nearly 600 people--three times the anticipated turnout. With the assistance of Oklahoma County Judge Cindy H. Truong, the event helped effectively erase the prior offenses of 19 individuals with criminal records in Oklahoma County.

Chamber Members The Boeing Company, Devon Energy, Dobson Technologies, Inc., the United Way of Central Oklahoma, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, along with local organizations Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., Molina Healthcare, Inc., Ogletree Deakins, The Oklahoma City Black Justice Fund (created by Chamber Member Arnall Family Foundation), sponsored the event.

“The Chamber has been really invested in this work in a way that gives me goosebumps. I didn't grow up in Oklahoma City. I've lived in other cities and I've had a chance to examine other cities,” said Shumate. “I don't know many Chambers of Commerce that have taken on criminal justice reform efforts the way that Oklahoma City has. Understanding reform and the space of our criminal justice system is probably the greatest thing that we can do. It means we can get people out of the system and back to work, and that’s important.”

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“The whole process of an expungement could cost up to $6,000 after you pay court costs and legal fees,” said Jabar Shumate, Urban League Vice President of Community Convening and Social Justice. “For someone who is already in a situation where they can't access the ability to get out of the cycle and onto a better life, expungement was just impossible. They’ve served their time and paid their debt to society, yet they often don’t have the resources to move forward. Not everyone is eligible for an expungement, but most folks don't know where to start.”

The expos are set up like a legal clinic where professionals help understand and diagnose where people are in the process of trying to clear up their past and background. Based on the information gathered, individuals move forward through the process of clearing their non-violent records.  For those that don't qualify for expungement, Urban League partners with organizations like The Bail Fund Project, Center for Employment Opportunity CEO, Goodwill Industries, TEEM, Diversion Hub, and others who can help them navigate employment despite a criminal record.

“Our community partners are crucial because we can't do the work on our own,” said Shumate.

“These partnerships help us get our clients the resources they need, but they also help build the Urban League long-lasting relationships with folks that are doing this work across the city. We don't have to reinvent efforts that are already making an impact and can be a bit more of a cohesive experience for the justice involved.”

The concept of clearing someone’s criminal record may make some uncomfortable, but these efforts are not to be confused with an “easy on crime” mentality. It’s a results-oriented way to support individuals in re-establishing their life in our community as effective and fulfilled members of society.

“I call this effort ‘smart on crime’ because it is a lot less expensive to invest our time and capital through clearing up people's records, helping them get better jobs to contribute to the economy, and providing them opportunities for secure home ownership,” said Shumate. “These efforts help make a stronger and more vibrant Oklahoma City. It's a far better and far more effective and efficient use of dollars to work collaboratively towards this goal.”

The next Expungement Expo will happen on June 25, 2022. If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer or as an event sponsor, please visit https://urbanleagueok.org/programs/criminal-justice-reform/ or contact Jabar Shumate, [email protected]

Urban League will begin sharing eligibility information and other specifics related to the event soon via social media accounts @UrbanLeagueOK and the Urban League website https://urbanleagueok.org/programs/criminal-justice-reform/.