A criminal record can significantly hinder your life, and with Texas’ strict laws, an expungement may be impossible. The process can be difficult to understand, so it’s important to have free access to resources that guide you through the process.

By Texas Exclusion Billadministered by Mithoff Pro Bono ProgramUT law students, supervised by practicing attorneys, help prepare documents to be filed in court to have criminal records expunged or sealed for people who cannot afford an attorney.

“Law students are drafting petitions for exoneration or non-disclosure,” said lawyer Rhiannon Hamam. “Then toward the end of the semester, we have final meetings with the applicants, where we meet on Zoom with them, go over what we’ve prepared for them, and talk about next steps for the court.”

Especially for students and people with low incomes, a lawyer can be handy, which is why this project is important. Students should take advantage of this resource at the university. If you are charged with a crime when you are 18 or older, apply to see if you qualify for opt-out or non-disclosure.

People might think of the expungement as pointless and a waste of time, but when applying for jobs, schools, or buying a home, a criminal record can deter your eligibility. Deregistration can open doors that were previously closed to you.

“A lot of times, people don’t know if they’re even eligible,” said Cate Byrne, Pro Bono Fellow and third-year law student. “It’s a really valuable service for people applying for jobs, licences, schemes, housing etc.”

In the state of Texasyour case must be dismissed or never charged to be eligible for removal. A person may qualify for non-disclosure in two circumstances: if it is the person’s first offense or if they have successfully completed deferred adjudication.

Even under these circumstances, you are not always guaranteed removal or non-disclosure.

“(Filing documents for expungement or non-disclosure) is not something that I think the average person outside of the legal field can do on their own, but there seems to be an expectation that people can do it,” Byrne said. “I’m stepping in to make sure people have the support they need to navigate this process.”

Hamam said that even for someone like her who is familiar with the law, Texas exclusion and nondisclosure laws are difficult to understand, which is why it’s important to seek legal help.

In other states that after your case is dismissed, it is deleted from your record, but in Texas, it still appears on your record as dismissed. This is why deletion is important to erase your record for good.

“Seeing how people react and realize that (the charges) can be expunged from their record, I think it’s been really incredible to see,” Byrne said. “A lot of people feel like more doors are open for them, especially when they’re thinking about things like housing and job applications, knowing that the burden isn’t something they have to talk about with (someone) who’s digging their guts out. history.”

Don’t let your criminal record get in the way of your future. Check if you are eligible for exclusion or non-disclosure and save yourself the hassle when applying for jobs, buying a home or applying for higher education.

Harrison is a senior journalism major from Dallas, Texas.