The Promise is working with community partners to hold 30 free record clearing clinics around the city over 30 weeks.

This is an important first step in the process of clearing a past conviction and the best way to remove a barrier standing in the way of a better life.

In the video below, Taylor Pacheco, deputy executive director of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, explains what happens during a record clearing intake clinic.

Click here to watch the 2-minute video.

So, what happens onsite?

• You’ll meet with a representative from one of our partnering legal services organizations to fill out the intake form and discuss your arrest or criminal record.
• No need to bring documentation or paperwork—just be prepared to provide your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and your current mailing address.
• At the end of the intake, you’ll be asked to fill out an authorization form and provide an electronic signature that allows the legal services organization to access your criminal record and represent you.
• If there’s time after the intake, you and the representative will review your publicly available criminal record information.

A few reminders:

• The clinic (which is the first step of this process) takes at least 10 minutes.
• Arrive any time during the advertised window, but count on less of a wait if you arrive early.
• You might meet with a law student, staff attorney, or volunteer.
• Please be patient. Clinic volunteers try to get everyone in and out as quickly as possible, but there may be a wait.
• Your information is confidential and will never be shared outside of the legal services organization.

AND THEN, what happens afterward?

• With your authorization, a staff attorney will access your complete records from the court and review it in detail.
• Your representative will contact you to discuss the specifics about your record, and the next steps in the record clearing process.
• You may be given referrals to other organizations or resources that you may need.
• Within 30 days after the intake, you will receive a letter letting you know if you have been accepted for services. The letter will include the services and steps needed to clear your record.

Find an upcoming clinic

• Find an upcoming clinic near you to learn more about how criminal records and convictions can hold you back or learn more about the record-clearing process.