AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: Around 300 people attended the event on Saturday, not 400 as previously reported.
Hundreds of people will soon have their arrest records cleared.
The first ever Expunction Expo drew about 300 people – and more who had to be turned away – as well as more than 50 volunteer attorneys to Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Saturday.
“Obviously there was a need for this in this community,” said Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, “and we're thrilled that we had so many folks get served today.”
People were able to meet with volunteer attorneys for free to fill out the paperwork that will eventually clear their arrest records.
For Sandra Fabian-Ramirez, it’s a weight lifted off her shoulders.
“These charges were back from 1993 to 1998. I had several assault charges,” Fabian-Ramirez said. “It’s a new chance – off my record – and I firmly believe people get a second chance.”
The fresh start will help Fabian-Ramirez with things like job and housing applications.
“I'm not the same person I was 20 years ago, so I'm pretty excited,” she said.
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For the volunteer attorneys, it was rewarding work, too.
“When they talk about attorneys, they think that we're just talking about all we want to make money,” said one of the volunteers, Rudy Metayer. “When you see the excitement of the people who're coming here today and you see the excitement of the attorneys who are involved today, only conclusion that you can think to yourself is this: ‘Why aren't we doing this more often? Why don't we have more opportunities to do these things?’”
Based on Saturday’s turnout, Moore said her office, in collaboration with the County Attorney’s Office and District Clerk’s Office, will look at hosting another expo as early as this fall.
“We know there's an unmet need still in this community and where we're looking at doing it again,” Moore said.
Fabian-Ramirez said she’s looking forward to officially having her records cleared, and hopes to some day work for the State of Texas or City of Austin.
“Closed a chapter,” she said. “I felt a lot, a lot less weight on my shoulders and feel really good.”
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