GOODWILL EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES
Expungement is how a record of criminal conviction is erased, destroyed or sealed from a state or federal record. An expungement order directs the court to treat the criminal conviction as if it had never occurred, essentially removing it from a defendant’s criminal record. Goodwill is focused on providing legal and financial assistance to participants because of the barriers an individual’s background can have on securing stable employment, housing and other basic needs.
To contact someone about expungement services, please call 1-877-309-0262
Which Legal Aid should you call AFTER attending an Expungement Clinic? Find out here.
Do you want to learn about the expungement process? If so, watch a short video from Legal Aid of the Bluegrass about criminal record expungement.
Your past doesn’t have to define your future.
Upcoming Events
To register for an upcoming expungement clinic, please select a link below:
September
Wednesday, September 28 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT | Louisville, Kentucky CLICK HERE
October
Friday, October 7th | 9 a.m. EST – 12 p.m. EDT | Lexington, Kentucky CLICK HERE
Wednesday, October 12th | 9 a.m. CST – 12 p.m. CDT | Bowling Green, Kentucky CLICK HERE
Wednesday, October 26 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT | Elizabethtown, Kentucky CLICK HERE
November
Friday, November 4 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EST | Lexington, Kentucky
Thursday November 10 | 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. EDT | Louisville, Kentucky
December
Thursday, December 15 | 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EST | Statewide Virtual (Zoom)
For questions about in-person clinics please email: expungement@goodwillky.org
For questions about the statewide virtual clinics please email: virtualexpungement@goodwillky.org
“The Goodwill service has helped me to get the process started of trying to get the wreckage of my past, to get a good job, and to not be turned away or told well your background check came back and we’re going to have to let you go.” – Male Participant, age 43
Check-in After Clinic
Thank you for checking back in with us. Please let us know your progress since you attended the expungement clinic, and based on your check-ins, you may be eligible for a virtual gift card. For more information, please contact Darleen Horton, the expungement program manager at Darleen.horton@goodwillky.org
Success Stories
Goodwill wants to congratulate you again for taking the first step to getting your record expunged and attending one of our expungement clinics. We are so proud to see how far you have come, and we are so honored that you chose Goodwill to start this journey with you. If you are open to it, we would love to share your story! Please take five minutes fill out the form in the link below!
“Goodwill has given me the tools to grow and move forward.” – Male Participant, age 52
1. Which Legal Aid should I call after attending a Goodwill Expungement Meeting?
Legal Aid Society:
The Legal Aid Society offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Washington.
- Phone: (502) 614-3103 – Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass:
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Anderson, Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Elliott, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Rowan, Scott, and Woodford.
- Phone: (859) 431-8200 – Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
AppalRed Legal Aid:
AppalRed Legal Aid offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Adair, Bell, Breathitt, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Floyd, Garrard, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Magoffin, Madison, Martin, McCreary, Monroe, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe.
- Phone: (866) 277-5733
Kentucky Legal Aid
Kentucky Legal Aid offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Allen, Ballard, Barren, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Green, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.
- Phone: (270) 782-5740 – Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
2. How long does it take to get my record expunged?
Each person backgrounds is different, but from start to finish, which includes attending the expungement clinic/requesting your criminal record to receiving the order stating the judge approved the expungement, may take up to six months. In addition, the process may take longer if you have a charges in different regions of Kentucky.
3. Does it cost to speak to an attorney about the expungement process?
No. When a participants attend the clinics it does not cost to attend the clinic or speak with the lawyer about expungements during the clinics. Goodwill is focused on providing legal and financial assistance to participants because of the barriers an individual’s background can have on securing stable employment, housing and other basic needs.
4. What if I miss my clinic?
We understand. If you signed up for the clinic and was not able to attend you can simply sign up for the next upcoming clinic near you on the website.
5. How will I be notified I am signed up for a clinic?
You will receive a email within 10 business days after you signed up, please make sure you check your emails regularly after applying.
6. How long does the expungement clinic last?
In person clinic can last two to three hours, and depending on what time you reserve you should expect to be at the clinic about one hour. Virtual clinics last about one hour.
7. What’s the difference between the in-person clinic and virtual clinic?
- In-person clinics: Prior to the in-person clinic, Goodwill will request each person’s unofficial background records from the Administrative Office of the Court for the purpose of this expungement. A copy of the participants background will be provided to them as they walk in, so they will be able to go over it with the attorney to determine what is eligible for expungement.
- Virtual clinics (Zoom): During the virtual clinic, participants will listen to the attorneys speak about expungement process. During the virtual clinics the attorneys explain what is eligible and what is not eligible for expungement. After the call, participants are instructed to reach out to Legal Aid to begin the process.
8. Should I still sign up if I know I have a charge that may not be eligible?
Yes. Just because one of your charges are not eligible, doesn’t mean that all of your charges are not eligible. During the time you speak with the attorney one-on-one they will let you know exactly which charges are eligible and not eligible and how they will move forward with you.
9. What if my charges are in not in Kentucky?
Out-of-state charges are not able to be expunged at this time.
10. Why should I get my record expunged?
Your past doesn’t need to define your future. When you get your record erased, some of the things you could benefit from is clear background checks, better employment opportunities, higher education, fair housing and ease of mind.
Link for Expungement Guidebook
https://dpa.ky.gov/Public_Defender_Resources/Documents/Expungement%20guidebook%207.5.pdf
Host a Clinic
The primary purpose of an expungement clinic is to expedite the clearance of criminal records that are creating barriers to services, employment and housing. At Goodwill, we believe in the power of second chances and partner with employers and community agencies statewide to help remove barriers for our participants.
What is an expungement?
Expungement is the process by which a record of criminal conviction is erased, destroyed or sealed from a state or federal record. An expungement order directs the court to treat the criminal conviction as if it had never occurred, essentially removing it from a defendant’s criminal record.
What happens at a clinic?
We host clinics throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky and screen clinic participants’ criminal records to see if anything on their record can be expungement or sealed or partially cleared. If their record can be expunged, we start the expungement process.
How long are your clinics?
In person clinics usually last between two to three hours and virtual clinics lasts about one hour.
How quickly is someone’s record expunged after your clinic?
After the attorney has determined a participants record is eligible, they’ll file an expungement, it takes about six months to prepare the expungement petitions, get a court date, appear in front of a judge and get the expungement ordered. It usually takes several more months for the state and local police to expunge a record after that.
What type of clinics do you host?
Goodwill’s expungement goal is to get 1,500 records expunged in 2022. To do that, Goodwill will offer statewide virtual clinics and in person clinics throughout the commonwealth.
“This is allowing me to improve my life drastically. Means getting a good job and being able to take care of my kids and myself.” – Female Participant, age 33
Are there restrictions on who you can help?
Out-of-state charges are not able to be expungement at this time. In addition, each Legal Aid may have certain criteria a participant will need to meet for their service and/or financial assistance.
If my organization wants to partner with Goodwill to host a clinic, what does the organization have to do?
- Assist in identifying an appropriate venue to host the clinic (Ex: the venue must have internet access, should be near a bus line and big enough to hold everyone)
- Have people able to volunteer before, during and after the clinic
- Help with advertising and promoting the clinics
If I host a clinic, what does my organization have to do?
Identify an appropriate venue to host the clinic (Ex: must have internet access, should be near a bus line, big enough to hold everyone).
Advertise to your members, community partners and in your community.
Have several people on staff during the clinic to help with logistics
What does my organization need to do if it wants to host a clinic?
Please CLICK HERE to fill out a form. If we are able to hold a clinic with you, we would need help with outreach to your community and logistics the day of the clinic.
Questions: Please contact Darleen Horton at darleen.horton@goodwillky.org
Thank you for wanting to partner with Goodwill expungement services. If you are interested in requesting a table for one of our upcoming expungement clinics. Please read our table reservation guidelines and fill out the form below.
Table reservation guidelines
Please note:
- Table requests are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. (*TABLES MAY NOT BE INCLUDED*) and assistance with setup and breakdown can be provided upon request.
- Once you request a table for an upcoming expungement clinic, your request will be reviewed within FIVE business days. Someone from the Expungement team will inform you of your approval or denial and confirmation will be sent via email. Filling out the form does not guarantee a spot.
- The request form should be submitted at least one week in advance of the event to ensure space and availability. Expungement services reserves the right to refuse a request, and we ask that any possible controversial displays be approved prior to the clinics by Darleen Horton.
- The information must be provided at the tables are no cost to the public. Sales at tables are prohibited.
- A maximum of TWO representatives per table during the expungement event, and we ask that all the partners arrive within 45 minutes from scheduled start time.
- Outdoor events may be canceled due to the weather. In that case, we will notify you via email as soon as possible.
Please click on this link to fill out the Table Request Form
To cancel your table, please email Darleen Horton at
“I am so thankful and appreciative to Goodwill, if it wasn’t for You all I wouldn’t have been able to get charges expunged off of my record. I am truly just so grateful, so thankful and so appreciative that Goodwill offers this incredible Program to help those in need with supplying the funds to pay for expungements and for helping me. This Program is truly a Blessing from God!” – Female Participant, age 38
Legal Aid Society
Offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Washington.
Phone: (502) 584-1254
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Complete the online intake form at www.yourlegalaid.org. Click, “I need help.”
Make sure you tell the person you speak with that you attended the “Goodwill Expungement Clinic.”
Download our Brochure
Download our Information Sheet
Legal Aid of the Bluegrass
Provides free civil legal help to low-income people in the following 33 counties: Anderson, Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Elliott, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Rowan, Scott and Woodford.
Phone number to apply: (859) 431-8200
Line open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Online application: www.lablaw.org/apply-here
Make sure to tell or indicate on the online application that you attended the “Goodwill Expungement Clinic.”
Download our Brochure
Download our Information Sheet
AppalRed Legal Aid
Offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Adair, Bell, Breathitt, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Floyd, Garrard, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Magoffin, Madison, Martin, McCreary, Monroe, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe.
Phone: (866) 277-5733
Complete the online intake at https://www.ardfky.org/node/29/online-application
Download our Brochure
Download our Information Sheet
Kentucky Legal Aid
Offers services to participants who charges are in following counties: Allen, Ballard, Barren, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Green, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.
Phone: (270) 782-5740
Hours: Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Learn about our process:
https://www.klaid.org/how-we-work
Make sure you tell the person you speak with that you attended the “Goodwill Expungement Clinic.”
Download our Brochure
Download our Information Sheet