Page 12 - Delaware Lawyer - Spring 2022

FEATURE
Clean Slate
Eliza M. Hirst
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Second chances for individuals with Delaware criminal records
To err is human, but to get a second chance can oftentimes be very difficult! Almost one out of every four Delawareans has a criminal record that is likely eligible to be expunged.1 That number is not only staggering, but can have a myriad of consequences for those individuals, including barriers to employment, military service and housing, along with exclusions from educational opportunities and professional development to name just a few.2 These losses can be profound and not only impact the individuals with criminal histories, but their families and communities as well.3
10 DELAWARE LAWYER SPRING 2022
As the head of the Post Disposition Unit for the Office of Defense Ser- vices, I have seen the heartbreak and devastating losses that prior criminal records have for many of my clients. One client missed his son’s graduation from the Air Force because he was barred from entering the military base due to a 30-year-old criminal record. Another client, who is a single parent, could not comfort her hospitalized child because
the children’s hospital prohibited her from entering based on a criminal ad- judication that happened when she was 13yearsold.Ihavealsoseenclientswho were prevented from becoming adoptive parents, attending their children’s school field trips, coaching sports or receiv- ing new job promotions because of old criminal histories. These are just a few examples of the cases I have handled as an Assistant Public Defender.
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