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Public commenter says expungement restored volunteer role and family participation
Summary
A public commenter recounted how getting her criminal record expunged allowed her to volunteer, teach Sunday school and better support her two children, saying an attorney ‘‘went to battle’’ to secure a clean record and that the change benefited her family and community.
A public commenter told the meeting that clearing her criminal record allowed her to volunteer, travel more freely and be present in her children’s lives after completing treatment.
She said she had worked in banquet and event planning and hotel and restaurant management before entering treatment 15 years ago but that those environments were not suitable for a recovering lifestyle. She said repeated paperwork and appeals to boards were required to explain why a past record ‘‘isn’t me anymore.’'
The commenter said family circumstances — including two younger children — motivated her to pursue expungement. "I got the perfect attorney that went to battle for me and gave me the hope, and she was determined to make sure that I was gonna have a clean record," she said.
She described a broader community effect: the expungement not only helped her but, she said, ‘‘affects 4 other kids, it affects my parents positively, it affects my whole community’’ by enabling her to help other women and connect them to services.
She said that as a result of having her record cleared she was allowed to return to volunteer duties: "Sunday, I was taken off my volunteer tag because I get to teach Sunday school now," she said, adding that the church conducts background checks to protect children. "If I hadn't had the opportunity to have expungement, then I wouldn't have that sticker."
The transcript contains only the speaker’s testimonial; it does not record any vote, staff response, or formal action connected to the comments.
