Hundreds get legal help at biannual Baltimore expungement clinic

More than 200 people received complimentary legal counsel on Saturday as Johns Hopkins co-hosted its eighth expungement clinic and resources fair as part of the B'More Healthy Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center. Held in partnership with Maryland Legal Aid and the Monumental City Bar Association, this biannual event gives individuals the opportunity to receive free legal advice and potentially remove certain criminal charges and other offenses from their public records.

Previous charges that show up on routine background checks can significantly inhibit an individual's ability to be hired, find housing, secure a loan, or go to school. Removing those charges from public inspection often opens doors and brightens prospects for these individuals, but costly legal fees can be a barrier for those seeking expungement.

During Saturday's clinic, 222 people requested legal assistance, resulting in 504 petitions completed for expungement. Attendees also were able to visit an employment resource fair staffed by organizations including United Way of Central Maryland, Turnaround Tuesday, and Helping Up Mission. Representatives from the Mayor's Office of Employment and Development, HopkinsLocal, and human resources from both Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System also attended to connect individuals with job opportunities.

Staff from the Johns Hopkins COVID Outreach team, the Johns Hopkins HEAT (Health Education and Training) Corps, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Brancati Center, and Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Advanced Practice Providers were onsite to provide health information and screenings to attendees.

"This semi-annual expungement clinic is a true testament to Hopkins' approach to actively engage our community partners to support our neighbors—our focus on workforce development in Baltimore is a cornerstone of HopkinsLocal," said Maria Harris Tildon, vice president of government, community, and economic partnerships for Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. "It also provides an opportunity for lawyers from across the Hopkins enterprise to put their training to work on behalf of our fellow community members."

Since the clinic launched in 2020, a total of 2,861 cases have been filed on behalf of 1,104 clients over the four-year period, saving those clients $42,280 in legal fees. Expungement clinic participants have seen an 11% increase in employment and a 22% increase in income on average.