On Sept. 25, Cabrillo College announced the ‘Clean Slate’ registration at noon Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Student Activities Center West, Room 202, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
With the California Community Colleges Rising Scholars Network and The Access Project, Cabrillo will register individuals for the ‘Clean Slate’ program, which provides free fingerprinting and post-conviction legal services to students, employees, and community members.
The program is designed to expunge convictions and reduce felonies, where possible, ultimately reducing barriers to finding a job and housing.
Live Scan services will provide free fingerprinting for attendees, which will be submitted to the California Department of Justice. Within a few weeks, attendees will receive a copy of their record in the mail. Then, pro-bono lawyers with the TAP Project will meet with registrants to review the record and determine what convictions can be reduced or expunged. They will prepare all forms needed to be filed with the courts. The entire process, from fingerprinting to resolution, typically takes nine months.
“Encounters with the criminal justice system can have lasting negative impacts, providing barriers to securing jobs, housing, and public benefits,” said Effron ‘Donnie’ Veal, coordinator of Cabrillo Rising Scholars Program. “This program is a game-changer.”