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Sat Jun 26 14:11:13 EDT 2021
Expungements, which permanently remove criminal records, can take up to a y=
ear in North Carolina. At the clinic Thursday, the process took less than a=
n hour. For Dennis Gaddy, a community leader and advocate, the expungement =
clinic was a "dream come true."
"I'm glad to see it happen, especially in rural North Carolina," he said. "=
To see the smile on people's faces when they come out with a piece of paper=
signed by the judge here...the courtroom has been brought to the community=
today."
Gaddy said he served nearly six years in the state's correctional system an=
d upon release, he felt obligated to help formerly incarcerated people re-e=
nter society with the resources to be successful. He founded the Raleigh-ba=
sed Community Success Initiative in May 2004 to help people in professional=
development and leadership. He also is a director of the N.C. Second Chanc=
e Alliance reentry program. "There wasn't a work called reentry 17 years ag=
o," said Gaddy. "We're trying to do something to take a setback and turn it=
into a comeback." As a native of Robeson County, Gaddy said getting an exp=
ungement can help restore hope for people in rural areas who are often defi=
ned by crimes they committed.
[Dennis Gaddy attended the expungement clinic in Lumberton on June 25, 2021=
with his father David Henry Gaddy, Jr., and friend, James Campbell.]
"It's historic and something that gives people hope," he said. 'When you ru=
n out of hope, you're liable to do anything."
While it is no secret that criminal records are a barrier for formerly inca=
rcerated people, local reentry programs work hard to offer legal and commun=
ity resources to make transitions back into society smoother.
Twana Ray and Bernice McPhatter of the Hoke County Reentry Council attended=
the clinic to observe the process in hopes of hosting an event in their co=
unty.
"A majority of our clients tend to have trouble getting employment and hous=
ing," McPhatter said. "The charges that they have can be expunged. It's key=
in terms of making resources more available for individuals."
McPhatter emphasized the importance of expungements and housing. With a cri=
minal record, housing applications are often denied, leaving people homeles=
s.
"It's motivating," Ray said. "Because they have so much hanging over the he=
ad that was negative in their past, it opens up their motivation of who the=
y are. They need that hope."
Meeting a great legal need
Newly appointed Chief District Court Judge Angelica McIntyre said the expun=
gement clinic was meeting a "great need" in Robeson County.
"This is the first expunction clinic that we've done here," said McIntyre, =
a graduate of Campbell's law school. "We have a great need in this county t=
o help people get back on their feet and have the opportunity for employmen=
t."
[The Honorable Angelica McIntyre is the first Native American to serve as a=
district court judge in the state of North Carolina.]
Home to about 131,000 people, Robeson County is one of the poorest in the s=
tate. Access to legal services in the county is limited compared to other m=
etropolitan areas. Getting expungements done through private attorneys can =
often be an expensive process.
"Income and ability to pay should not be a factor in whether or not you can=
provide for your family," said McIntyre, who is the first Lumbee Native to=
serve as a district court judge in the state.
McIntyre said charges on people's records prevent them from having fair and=
equal access to basic needs like driver's licenses.
"Most of what we're handling today are cases that were low-level charges th=
at happened to folks over a decade ago," said McIntyre. "That charge from a=
decade ago has prevented them from being able to provide for their familie=
s...and having the opportunity for a fresh start is not only good for them =
but it's good for Robeson County as a whole."
[Tina Brandon, an administrative assistant at Campbell University's Norman =
Adrian Wiggins School of Law, checked in clients to the expungement clinic =
in Lumberton on June 25, 2021.]
Expungement laws in the state have changed significantly, according to McIn=
tyre, and now cases where a person was found not guilty or if a case was di=
smissed can also be expunged.
"There was a time where you could have one charge expunged and that was it,=
" she said. "When folks have charges dismissed it still shows on their reco=
rds and that can be an impediment. This allows for them to have that remove=
d from their record all together."
The Clerk of Court for the county, Shelena Smith, was also on site to proce=
ss all expungement documents after judges signed off on them.
Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott said opportunities to work with=
people and remove barriers to their success was necessary. This was his fi=
rst time participating in an expungement clinic.
"To understand that these individuals that have come here today actually to=
ok their time out to do the application and put the leg work in alone shows=
that they're trying to make a change," Scott said. "Anytime that you can h=
elp and foster that and provide hope where hope is lacking is always a bles=
sing."
He said he hoped the clinic helped people clean up their records, which wou=
ld in turn makes the community safer.
Scott said the clinic had more than 100 applicants that applied for the exp=
ungements. Unfortunately, he said, all of them could not get help.
"I pray this is not a one-off, and I don't believe it will be," he said. "I=
'm hoping this can have a snowball effect to more and more opportunities."
A passion for people
For the 11 law students and administrative staff in attendance at the clini=
c, working to provide services was bigger than just being present. Under th=
e supervision of law clinic director Ashley Campbell, law students work pro=
-bono with community organizations that provide reentry services and resour=
ces to formerly incarcerated people.
[Christopher "Chris" Hamby, a native of Boone and a law student at Campbell=
University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, worked to help clients a=
t the expungement clinic on June 25, 2021 in Lumberton.]
"It always feels good to give back," said Christopher Hamby, a rising secon=
d-year law student at Campbell. "This seems like a great way to brighten pe=
ople's futures."
Hamby said he has gotten experience working with people seeking expungement=
s through the school before and said he hopes to continue working pro-bono =
in the community.
"I definitely would love to circle back around to it at some point in my ac=
tual legal career," said Hamby, a native of Boone. "It gives you a chance t=
o help."
The next expungement clinic will take place in Onslow County this fall.
Regional Enterprise Reporter Kristen Johnson can be reached at kjohnson1 at ga=
nnett.com or 910-486-3570.
Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. =
Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article.
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Lisa L. Snedeker
Director of Communications & Marketing
Campbell Law School
(919) 865-5978 - office
(336) 453-8233 - cell
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<div>Friends, </div>
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</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">I am sure all of you share my pride at the amazing expunct=
ion work our Blanchard Community Law clinic is doing across eastern North C=
arolina. </div>
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>From:</b> Snedeker, Lisa L <lsnedeker at campbell.edu><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, June 27, 2021 10:11 AM<br>
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<b>Subject:</b> Robeson County residents receive on-site expungements with =
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Robeson County residents receive on-site expungements with help of Campbell=
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on:underline 2px rgb(0,152,254)">Kristen
Johnson</a>
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quot;,serif; font-size:18px; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:norm=
al; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal">LUMBERTON=97
Some Robeson County residents with criminal records had a chance to g=
et a fresh start Thursday.</span><br>
</div>
<p class=3D"gnt_ar_b_p" style=3D"margin:14px 0px">The Blanchard Community L=
aw Clinic, part of Campbell University's law school, partnered with th=
e Robeson County Reentry Council and county officials, to provide expu=
ngements for about 45 people. </p>
<p class=3D"gnt_ar_b_p" style=3D"margin:14px 0px">Residents with low-level =
charges and convictions within the last 10 years got legal assist=
ance from law students and attorneys on site in Lumberton at the Osterneck =
Auditorium. The county's district attorney, chief
district court judge, and clerk of court were there to immediately gr=
ant the expungements. </p>
<p class=3D"gnt_ar_b_p" style=3D"margin:14px 0px">This is the third event h=
osted by the law clinic this year and the first in Robeson County.</p>
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