Record Sealing Clinic: Helping People Move Forward

Tuesdays are often quiet at St. Paul’s, but at least once a quarter the Parish Hall fills up with lawyers, interns, and social service providers to seal legal records for people who have made a criminal mistake and gone on to correct it with the judicial system. Having a record is a barrier to employment and housing because it must be declared by “checking the box” on the job or rental application. On September 22 32 people were liberated from “checking the box” at St. Paul’s record sealing clinic.

The clinics are a collaboration between Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, Legal Aid of Arkansas, and St. Paul’s Justice for All Ministry. This year we recieved a Diocean grant from the United Thank Offering (the little blue boxes) to support record sealing, warrant clinics and car repair clinics with the funds from UTO.

While fixing busted tail lights may not seem related to the justice system, traffic stops frequently result in detention and other secondary impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. Our goal is to keep people from getting trapped in a system that harms them and their families. The majority of people locally incarcerated are in jail because they cannot afford bail, and are stuck in a cycle of poverty which is difficult to escape.

If you’re interested in working with Justice for All and our community justice partners please contact Mac Mayfield at mayfieldmac(at)gmail(dot) com.