West Tennessee Legal Services to host expungement clinic

West Tennessee Legal Services is partnering with the Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Tennessee Office of Reentry, and the TN Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission to host a free expungement clinic on April 6, 2023, in Jackson to celebrate Second Chance Month, according to a release sent out by the agency.

This clinic will allow qualifying individuals to have their criminal record erased. People may be eligible for expungement in Tennessee for the following reasons: if they had charges against them dismissed, a “no true bill” was returned by a grand jury, they were arrested and released without being charged, their trial resulted in a “not guilty” verdict, or the case resulted in a “nolle prosequi (prosecution will not be pursued)”. Additionally, some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be eligible for an expungement.

“Many times, people make mistakes in their lives that stay on their record forever, we want to help people who are eligible for an expungement get these charges erased from their record,” said Andy Cole, Pro Bono Coordinator at WTLS. “This is a great opportunity for people to be able to move on from their past.”

West Tennessee Legal Services says Tennessee has recently made updates to its expungement laws, so people who have not been eligible in the past, might now be eligible for expungements.

This clinic is only for people who have charges in Madison County General Sessions or Circuit Courts. Pre-registration is required, and the clinic will be limited to the first 50 registrants. Registration is open and ends March 17, 2023.

Anyone interested in registering for the clinic can call WTLS at 731-423-0616 or visit wtls.org to complete an online application.