“The outcome could not be better […] the flaws on my record are not indicative of the person I am today. I am no longer stigmatized by my record or a reflection of it.” – Lisa*, Former CORI Clinic Client
We first launched the Lawyers Clearinghouse CORI Clinic in 2019 to connect people with volunteer attorneys who could help them seal or expunge their criminal records for free. Now, five years, over 100 clinics, and 600 clients later, we sat down with Clinic Consultant and mentor Crispin Birnbaum, a Clearinghouse Access to Justice Fellow, to reflect on the program’s impact, ongoing challenges faced by those with records, and much-needed systemic reforms that could drastically change many people’s lives for the better.
Initially conceived as a periodic, in-person program, the CORI Clinic has operated virtually since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to safely serve people face-to-face. Twice a month, rotating groups of volunteer attorneys from local law firms and in-house legal departments log onto Zoom to meet with clients, review their records, and commit to representing them in sealing and expungement cases if eligible. Volunteers prepare for these meetings in advance, with guidance from Crispin, and continue to collaborate with her when needed throughout the full representation process, which can ultimately take months due to the Massachusetts Probation Service and criminal court backlogs.
Crispin says the pivot to an online model has been extremely beneficial for clients and volunteers alike, allowing for more frequent clinics and removing geographic barriers that might have made it difficult for people outside of Greater Boston to access such a vital free legal service. Because people can attend remotely, the CORI Clinic now serves a great many clients statewide.
One in three Americans—roughly 77 million people—hold criminal records, which document not only criminal convictions, but also all case dispositions, including non-convictions such as dismissals and not guilty findings. Records follow people for life, long after they’ve paid their debt to society, been released from incarceration, or completed parole or probation supervision, and the law dictates a long waiting period before someone can pursue sealing or expungement and finally remove their record from public view.
In the meantime, record-holders face immense stigma, as well as barriers to accessing housing, employment, professional licensing, higher education, and more. And in a country that disproportionately targets and polices Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, people of color are much more likely to have records and bear the brunt of these negative impacts.
“While it’s hard for anyone to get a job and get an apartment with a record, it’s so much harder for a person of color to get any kind of advancement or forward momentum with a record,” Crispin says.
Re-entry into society following time in prison also comes with its own additional challenges, including high rates of homelessness and unemployment.
“There’s no place to live when you’re being released, you have no income, and most of the people coming out after doing time don’t even have any possessions anymore,” Crispin says. “Their families have either disowned them or their landlord emptied the apartment and threw everything out. You’re literally starting from zero.”
Beyond the obvious barriers and hardships, Crispin says there is also a serious need for more public education. Often people with records have no idea what sealing and expungement are, or that they may be eligible now or within a few years. The knowledge that there is a potential remedy available can go a long way to fostering more confidence and optimism about the path ahead. And people who review background checks, such as employers and landlords, frequently do not understand how to properly decipher records and do not consider other relevant factors, such as the age of the record or the presence of non-convictions.
The benefits of sealing and expungement are immediate, and past clients frequently say they feel a weight has been lifted off of their shoulders. Suddenly they are able to apply for jobs and housing and access other life-changing opportunities that positively impact them and their families.
Crispin hopes the CORI Clinic can continue to offer people much-needed legal advocacy for years to come, however she says there is still a lot of work to be done on the systemic level to address ongoing inequities.
Currently, there are two reform bills set to be filed in the Massachusetts legislature in January which Crispin says would have a major positive impact on record-holders across the Commonwealth.
The first bill, known as Clean Slate, has been passed successfully in a number of states nationwide. It would automate sealing for people who meet the eligibility requirements, removing a number of logistical barriers. Currently, the Massachusetts Probation Service must process petitions to seal by hand, and the courts require an in-person hearing, using limited judicial resources. The second bill would immediately seal non-convictions, which are included on Massachusetts CORI records as an indication of court activity.
Both bills face opposition and have failed previously, but advocates are hopeful they can build enough public and political support to get them passed in 2025.
Despite the long path ahead, there is still a lot to be proud of as the CORI Clinic enters its sixth year of service. With assistance from Crispin and dedicated volunteers, hundreds of people have been able to change their lives for the better, and, in a world of uncertainty that certainly counts for something.
Crispin regularly provides free criminal records sealing and expungement trainings for direct care staff and free informational workshops for people with CORIs across the Commonwealth. Check out the Lawyers Clearinghouse calendar to register for an upcoming CORI Training or reach out to Crispin via email to schedule a free training or workshop for your agency or organization.
