Kansas City’s Free Expungement Clinic Terminates Service Despite Considerable Demand
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Expungement Clinic, a significant venture for the community, has sadly shuttered its doors. In its seven years of imperative service, the clinic has assisted nearly 60 people in wiping their criminal records clean. Closing its doors in January 2024, the termination of the expungement clinic’s activities stems from the expiration of grant funding.
A Beacon of Hope for Former Convicts
Driven by the belief that everyone deserves a second chance, Kevin Morgan, a recipient of the clinic’s services attests to the organization’s impact. Despite acquiring a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, his criminal record hindered his process of rebuilding his life post-incarceration. The expungement clinic became a platform for redemption, helping Morgan clear his record and catalyze his journey back into normalcy.
Inspired by his experience, Morgan also founded Sent1One Ministries, aimed at giving former inmates temporary housing and recidivism prevention programs.
The Closing Leaves a Gap
The Closure of the UMKC Expungement Clinic has caused concern among the Kansas City legal community, echoing the sentiments of Ellen Suni, the founder of the clinic. Advocating for the continuance of such beneficial initiatives, Suni urges other legal organizations to fulfill the void left by the clinic’s closure.
Moreover, facilitating this service in Missouri is critically essential, as around 69% of people convicted of felonies return to prison within two years without full-time employment, as reported by the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Beyond Criminal Records: A Stepping Stone to Recidivism
Once a felony is expunged, people gain access to better opportunities in jobs and housing, significantly enhancing their chance of reintegrating into society. Therefore, replacing the clinic’s service looks to be less of a choice and more of a mandate. And this sentiment is shared by those who have witnessed the clinic’s impact firsthand.
Bailey Baker, a law student at the UMKC Expungement Clinic, fondly remembers being part of the defendant’s journey to a fresh start. Hearing from past clients about their new home, job, and community contributions does not fail to motivate the next generation of practicing attorneys.
The Need Remains
Despite the closing of the clinic, Johnny Waller Jr., the clinic’s former program manager, is in the early stages of establishing another expungement initiative. He also urges Kansas City’s legal community members to host their own expungement clinics. Waller’s passion for the continuation of such initiatives is solidly backed by statistics; more than 1,100 people applied to get an expungement during the clinic’s operational years. However, many could not experience its benefits as their charges fell outside Missouri’s expungement-eligible offenses.
Therefore, reinstating a similar initiative becomes paramount in ensuring a larger proportion of former convicts do not fall back into the vicious cycle of recidivism. Till then, Suni and her dedicated group of students continue to clear the remaining 12 unfinished cases taken on by the clinic prior to its closure.
Ensuring fair and equal opportunities for all holds true to the American dream. As we eagerly await the establishment of more endeavors reminiscent of UMKC’s Expungement Clinic, we hope former offenders find solace in a society that believes in second chances.
