Urban League of Greater OKC Hosting Annual Free Expungement Expo to Clear Non-Violent Offenders Criminal Records

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — This month the Urban League of Oklahoma will host its third annual expungement expo, to help Oklahomans get rid of their criminal records.

The expo will be Saturday, June 24th from 9 AM-12 PM at the Metro Tech Springlake Campus, and organizers hope to help around a thousand Oklahomans.

The Urban League of Greater Oklahoma has organized the expo for three years now, to help people who have criminal charges get back on their feet.

“Those who are formerly incarcerated and have served out their time for nonviolent offenses to seal their records so that they can get better jobs and housing,” said Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City’s Vice President of Community, Jabor Shumate.

To be eligible for the expo, your charges must be non-violent offenses in Oklahoma County,

“We will have attorneys on hand to tell you whether or not you qualify to fit in that statute,” Shumate said, “The state of Oklahoma has a small incubation period, but we will get you the expert to let you know what you need to do.”

Organizers say 94% of Oklahomans who are eligible for expungement miss out on the opportunity because they cannot afford it, as it can cost up to $7,000.

“We’ve actually figured out a way to help those individuals,” said Shumate, “Our clients aren’t charged $1 for the work to look at their case to see if they’re eligible.”

The Urban Leauge says the expungement expo will benefit the state as a whole,

“I think this is one of the best, best programs for our state, not only helping our clients but our state because we can get those individuals into the workforce,” Shumate said, “When we get those individuals in houses and in jobs, they then make our state stronger.”

For more information on the expo, email [email protected] or text (405) 730-8680.

Urban League wants to remind people that only Oklahoma County charges are eligible.