Clean Slate Clackamas

It is estimated that of the 4.1 million people in the State of Oregon, 1.4 million people have a criminal record. Only around 112,000 of those that qualify have applied for expungement. Launched in Clackamas County in March of 2022, Clean Slate Clackamas provides resources and support to individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system. With just under 1400 applications to the program, Clean Slate Clackamas has served 837 participants through the pro-se process of expungement. Through Clean Slate Clackamas, it is our role to educate the population and help to create a more equitable workforce and true system change.  

Our program aims to increase access to justice, education, and career training, and to address the lasting impacts of incarceration and experiences with the legal system. Leveraging partnerships with services like Public Health to provide Narcan kits, Children, Family Community Connections to provide space for our clinic and employment support, WorkSource Clackamas to provide wrap around employment services and Clackamas Community College for education and training, these are just some of the examples of the over 50 providers we have pooled together to make these clinics such a success. 

One of our successes involves a man by the name of Mike who, in his own words, made some really “bone-headed choices” in his youth. He told me that he had been repeatedly paying for ever since, the better part of 20 years. Initially skeptical of the program, Mike was met at our clinic with open arms and even more so, absolutely no judgement for his past. “You never treated me with anything other than respect and kindness. I never felt looked down upon, judged or felt that I was “less than” everybody else.” 

Now a fully expunged “graduate” of Clean Slate Clackamas, Mike has access to doors he thought were closed forever – better employment opportunities, access to housing, even a better credit score. Mike credits Clean Slate Clackamas with helping turn his life around and giving him the tools, he needed to overcome this barrier and a way to acknowledge the work that had done to turn his life around. 

This is just one of many stories we hear on a regular basis. Clean Slate Clackamas has enhanced our community by making a positive impact, and generational change, moving past the mistakes that were made and providing a true second chance throughout our community.