LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Industries of Kentucky has partnered with the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council to host an expungement clinic in Richmond, Kentucky, on Tuesday, March 14 from 9-11 a.m. – the first clinic Goodwill has offered in Richmond since its expungement program started in 2020.
The event will take place at 4460 Kit Carson Dr., Richmond, KY 40475 and will be capped at 50 participants. Walk-ins will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals can register at GoodwillKY.org/Expungements.
Expungement is the process by which a record of criminal conviction is sealed from state or federal record. Today, there are 10s of thousands of individuals behind bars in Kentucky. When they’re released, many will face challenges when reintegrating into their everyday lives, which includes finding reliable employment.
To provide a second chance for this population, Goodwill partnered with the Legal Aid Society, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, AppalReD Legal Aid and Kentucky Legal Aid to offer expungement clinics, where individuals can receive free legal advice from professionals from the aforementioned agencies. If participants qualify for expungement, they are guided through the process free of charge. Goodwill covers any fees for the expungement up to $600 per participant.
“Goodwill understands an expungement can improve the quality of life for justice-involved Kentuckians while stimulating local and state economies,” said Miranda Montgomery, reentry supervisor for Goodwill. “We are proud to have seen expungement participants statewide move out of poverty after being able to access better jobs, more housing and educational opportunities that were previously unattainable.”
In 2022, Goodwill and its partners expunged more than 2,500 criminal records statewide, more than tripling its number of expungements granted in 2021. The Kentucky River Foothills Development Council saw a need for these services in the Richmond area.
“Oftentimes criminal records can be an obstacle to obtaining adequate employment, housing and education opportunities, which can negatively affect a person’s health,” said Karen Atkins, KRFDC public information officer. “Expunging qualified criminal records can open up many opportunities for people to have a better quality of life, which is why Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, Inc. and its’ MORE (Madison Opioid Response and Empowerment) program is thrilled to partner with Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to provide expungement services for our neighbors. These services align with our mission of developing community resources so that all persons may have lives of dignity, responsibility and opportunity. It is our hope that by removing barriers and giving people a fresh start, we are also improving the overall health of our community.”
Goodwill will be hosting clinics throughout the commonwealth in 2023. For more information about expungement or to register for an upcoming clinic, visit GoodwillKY.org/Expungements.
About Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is a 100-year-old nonprofit organization that operates in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The organization is committed to using resources from its 67 retail stores to help build pathways out of poverty for individuals who need a hand up in life. In 2022, Goodwill helped place 2,368 Kentuckians into jobs with 877 of its employer partners and inside its own retail stores. Goodwill uses approximately 90 cents from every dollar generated in its retail stores to operate programs and services that help Kentucky’s hardest-to-serve job seekers build the life they desire.