AUSTIN, Texas — Nearly 100 Travis County residents with criminal records were able to wipe them clean this weekend.
The Travis County District's Attorney's Office, Travis County Law Library and Travis County district clerk held their fifth expunction expo on Saturday. Expunction is the legal process where arrests and charges can be removed from someone's criminal record, clearing their name.
Ninety people worked with the County to clear their names at Saturday's event.
County officials told KVUE having a criminal record can make people feel stuck.
"We know that those arrests follow them into every job interview, every application for housing," Travis County District Attorney José Garza said “They make that person’s life and their community less stable, and that makes us less safe.”
The County said the cases may include instances where someone was arrested but was never charged or indicted or, in some cases, if a criminal charge was dismissed or a person was acquitted, pardoned or completed a diversion program.
Since 2020, Travis County officials have helped 649 residents clear their qualified criminal charges.
Another expo is being planned for later this spring.