OKC Urban League Hosts 4th Annual Expungement Expo

For many people who have been convicted of a crime, putting those mistakes behind them can be tough.

But those are exactly the people the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City is looking for.

“We did some research and found out that ninety-four percent of those eligible for an expungement can’t get one,” said Jabar Shumate, Vice President of Community Convening and Social Justice with the Urban League.

For the past four years, the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City has hosted an expungement expo. “If you have committed a nonviolent crime in Oklahoma and served your time, most people don’t know your record still follows you,” said Shumate.

“I was trying to get a house and because that was on my background didn’t nobody really want to deal with me,” said Marcus, a previous expungement participant.

The expungement expo is on Saturday at Metro Tech, connecting people to resources and people to help them.

“About a thousand people are going to be there on Saturday, we already have 300 people that are registered,” said Shumate.

Registration for the expungement aspect has ended, but they still encourage everyone to come out to the free event.

“A lot of people that have been through the process know that it can take sometimes over a year if you come Saturday, we can probably cut that in half because we are going to get started on you early,” said Shumate.

The road to expungement can be long and tedious but for those who have been through the process, it is all worth it. “Once your record is expunged, you don’t have to disclose to anybody that you have been justice-involved,” said Shumate.

“I’m excited to find a new job and buy a house,” said Marcus.

The event is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Metro Tech at Northeast MLK Avenue and Springlake Drive. It is free and registration is not required to attend. For more information about the Expungement expo visit www.urbanleagueok.org/programs/criminal-justice-reform.