TAMPA, Fla. — Hundreds of Hillsborough County residents now have a fresh start in life after having their criminal records wiped clean, thanks to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office.
- 2nd annual expungement clinic held in Hillsborough County
- More than 200 people screened to make sure they qualified
- Criminal records can affect people for years, even if no conviction
The 13th Judicial Circuit hosted its second annual expungement clinic Tuesday night. The purpose is to remove damaging information from the criminal record of people who were not convicted of a crime.
"Essentially what we're doing is creating a one-stop shop that allows people to have a second chance in life," said Estella Gray, spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office.
More than 200 people were screened to make sure they qualified for the service. Once they did, they were put through a brief orientation seminar explaining how the expungement process works.
Among the services they received were legal counsel, notary public services and fingerprinting. The average cost per person to get a criminal record expunged is between $1,500-$2,500 per person. All of this was provided free of charge with the help of non-profit organizations and private donations.
Lyndsay Boggess, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, said criminal records often impact people for years, even if they were never convicted.
"That record affects their ability to get a job, it affects their reputation, their ability to rent an apartment or get a car loan because it's also on their credit history," Boggess said.
The State Attorney's Office is planning another expungement clinic for November.