Back in March, the town of Dumfries held their first expungement clinic, and it was a rousing success, with more than 56% of records being changed. More importantly, it showed what can happen when leadership has a vision to help the people get another opportunity to achieve their dreams. The clinic was the brainchild of the town’s Vice Mayor Monae Nickerson and Councilwoman Selonia Miles, and they spoke with the PW Perspective about putting the clinic together, how it’s now become a statewide program, and plans for a second one in Dumfries.

Can you describe the process that both of you had to go through in order to see the first expungement clinic come to pass?

“In Virginia, the criminal justice system is a tough one to navigate; specifically, it is easy to get caught up in the system, but it’s almost an impossible task to clear your name when you are found innocent after having been falsely accused or unjustly charge. Having unfounded charges hanging over your head causes life debilitating consequences, and we knew this was commonplace in our community and other disenfranchised communities. We knew it was our responsibility do something to make this path easier for our citizens.”

“Our research led us to an MD clinic, where we got ideas for how we wanted to bring a similar resource to Dumfries, VA. We continued our research on the expungement laws and requirements in Virginia. We found that the process is cumbersome and convoluted, with several moving parts and offices involved. We began by reaching out to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office and the Clerk of Court and requested that they join us in bringing this resource to the community. With buy-in from those two offices, we asked the Dumfries Police department to be involved and they immediately stepped up to the plate.  Equally importantly, we solicited funds from local political leaders, the first being Delegate Luke Torian, to help us pay the application fees for applicants of our first ever of its kind, in-person Expungement clinic.”

What has the feedback been like since?

“The feedback we’ve received from the clinic has been nothing short of amazing! The clinic’s success can be measured not just in the number of people who walked through the door on the morning of March 19, 2022, but also in the number of clinics that are now being conducted using the Dumfries blueprint for a one-stop-shop of an in-person Expungement Clinic. As of the date of the article, there are at least three clinics planned across Prince William County, and we have been contacted by other localities across the Commonwealth of Virginia asking for our assistance in creating similar clinics in different localities.”

“Constituent service is the most important part of serving in local government. We saw a need in the community, and we not only presented a solution, we made it as accessible as possible. Because of our commitment to service, we were able to make history and set an example for other community leaders to follow. Vice Mayor Nickerson and Councilwoman Miles are Trailblazers, and we are showing that being a local politician is not only making policy and balancing the budget; it’s also about getting into the community and bringing needed resources to the community to empower the community.”

Now that other locales within the state are starting their own clinics, what advice have you been able to provide?

“The advice we would provide other localities is not to be deterred by roadblocks and to rely on your relationships. Roadblocks will come from people who do not believe in the overall goal –to bring about empowerment in the community. Relationships are the catalyst to the partnerships that bring all the moving parts together. If there is one part missing, there are other parts that can still be done in one setting – do the research and know what’s needed in your locality before undertaking this task, but once it’s done, it’s rewarding.”

What plans are in place to have a second one in Dumfries given its success rate?

“We are excited to host the second annual Expungement clinic in Dumfries next winter! We will confer with the Commonwealth Attorney and the Clerk of Court on the lessons learned and we are committed to bring those lessons to the forefront to make next year’s clinic a more prominent, better, smoother clinic.”