LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and community partners announced plans for the next Clean Slate Lexington Expungement Clinic and Job Fair for those wanting help to expunge their criminal records.

The event is scheduled for Oct. 30 at the Central Bank Center and will offer residents the possibility of expunging qualifying misdemeanors and felonies from their criminal records.

“Our Clean Slate Lexington Expungement Clinics have given a second chance to many people in our community,” Gorton said. “These clinics help our residents expunge their records from low-level, non-violent offenses. They can also obtain basic resources, and open doors to new opportunities.”

The mayor’s office said expungement can remove hurdles to voting, employment, education and housing. The first expungement clinic was held in April 2022. Since then, Lexington has held five expungement clinics, and over 1300 individuals have received expungement-related services through the initiative.

Tiffany Brown is the city’s Equity and Implementation Officer, and coordinates the Clean Slate Lexington events. “The expungement process not only clears a person’s record but also restores dignity and hope. It is a chance to move beyond mistakes of the past, and to pursue new opportunities without the weight of a criminal record,” Brown said. “This is a critical step toward addressing the systemic inequities that disproportionately affect people of color and residents in our community with significant financial barriers.”

According to the mayor’s office, expungement reform has been taking place in Kentucky for over 30 years and the state legislature has recently expanded expungement eligibility. Eligibility details will be available at the Clean Slate event.

Employers will also be on site to conduct job interviews, and the state and city workforce programs — WORK-Lexington and the Kentucky Career Center — will also be available.

Registration and a background check are required for those interested in participating in the Clean Slate Expungement Clinic and Job Fair. The expungement clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Central Bank Center, 425 West High Street. Learn more on the city of Lexington website.