Walk-In Clinics Offer Free Criminal Record Expungement Services in The Dalles and Hood River
Retired lawyers and volunteers join forces with Portland Community College C.L.E.A.R. Clinic to assist individuals in the Gorge seeking expungement.
Lynn-Marie Crider and Kevin Walsh at Six Rivers Dispute Resolution
center in Hood River, location of the Wednesday clinics.
by Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, OR - In an effort to support local residents, free walk-in criminal record expungement clinics are set to begin in the The Dalles and Hood River, OR this month. These clinics aim to assist individuals in applying to have their criminal records expunged, providing them with an opportunity for a fresh start. The first clinic opened its doors in The Dalles on Thursday, June 1, 2023 and served 6 clients seeking expungement. The next clinic will be held in Hood River on Wednesday, June 7. A list of additional clinic dates is available at the end of this article.
Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis said the clinics are an essential and welcome addition to the community. He also explained how expunging criminal records can have a profound impact on a person's life, opening up new opportunities for employment, housing, and other essential aspects of life.
"Criminal convictions stay with people long after they have been held accountable and paid their debts to society. Convictions can mean denial of housing, denial of school loans, and loss of job prospects. Expungements give some of our community members a reset. An expungement does not come with a public defender, though. Until now, a person seeking an expungement in our community meant paying an attorney or navigating the process on their own. A free clinic is an essential and welcome addition to our legal community,” said Ellis.
Retired lawyers and dedicated volunteers will be staffing these clinics, working alongside Portland Community College Community (PCC) Legal and Educational Access and Referral (CLEAR) Clinic's attorneys to ensure comprehensive assistance. By collaborating with legal professionals and experienced individuals, these clinics aim to streamline the process of expunction, making it accessible to those who need it most.
Lynn-Marie Crider.
Lynn-Marie Crider, a retired labor union lawyer and labor organizer has been key in bringing the free legal clinics to the Gorge.
“I heard about the Portland Community College clinic and I said…this sounds really wonderful but I’m in Hood River and I want to be involved here,” said Crider.
“So I volunteered to go down there and work in the clinic in Portland if they would train me and let me loose up here,” said Crider.
She says her goal with the clinics was to make it so that “people don’t have to go to Portland in order to get free legal services to access their right to expungement.”
Crider said she is passionate about helping people.
“What I love about it is that it’s really concrete. I’ve been involved much of my life in trying to change systems that hurt people and make it possible for people to be empowered in their lives. But this is really concrete. This makes a difference in the life of one person each time I interact with them,” said Crider.
Under the supervision of Crider, clinics will provide valuable support to clients by helping them prepare the necessary expunction motions for filing and service, as well as assisting with the fingerprinting process. Upon completion of their visit, individuals will leave with all the required documents to file their motions in the appropriate courts, serve the District Attorney, and submit their fingerprints to the Oregon State Police using the appropriate forms.
Crider also encouraged interested people to consider volunteering with the clinics.
“Honestly, this is not rocket science,” she said “You have to learn what the rules are, but you don’t need a legal degree to be able to figure it out.”
Although it is still “technically the practice of law, meaning volunteers will need to work under the supervision of a lawyer, who is in this case, Crider.
The key volunteer attributes she’s looking for?
“Those who are attentive to detail and have empathy with people that we serve, whether they have a law degree or not.”
Want to volunteer? Email lynnmarie.crider@gmail.com.
Record Expungement Eligibility
While eligibility for expunction varies from case to case, most class B non-person felonies and convictions of lesser offenses are eligible to be expunged.
Schedule
The initial clinic schedule is as follows:
First Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m. (except August)
Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center
601 Cascade Ave., Hood River
(Entrance through Sixth St., with on-street parking available)
First Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. (except August)
Wasco County Department of Youth Services
202 E. 5th St., The Dalles
(Entrance through the front door)
The organizers of these clinics are grateful for any assistance in spreading the word, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring the clinics reach those who could benefit most from their services. Together, they hope the clinics will help the region work towards a more inclusive and supportive community, where individuals can overcome past hurdles and move towards a brighter future.
For more information or inquiries about walk-in clinics in the gorge contact organizers at: lynnmarie.crider@gmail.com or visit PCC.edu/CLEAR-CLINIC
Note: This article is based on the provided information and does not reflect any additional updates or developments beyond June 2nd, 2023.
