Local DA’s expungement workshop gives people ‘hope’

Dublin’s district attorney wants justice. He also wants people whose cases have been dismissed to not have those charges show up on a criminal record, so that they can get a job to help support their family and improve the community’s workforce.

DA Harold McLendon said as many as 100 people showed up at Oconee Gym for the first Expungement Workshop held on Sept. 19. Of those 100, 30 or more were excused because their cases did not originate for Laurens, Johnson, Treutlen and Twiggs counties. They also could not deal with any violent cases.

“This is a real good turnout,” McLendon said. “I wasn’t expecting this. Because so many responded, we may do more of these throughout the year. What we are working with is people’s whose cases were dismissed but they are still pending on their records like something is going on with their case.” 

One person went to the DA’s office and could not get a job because of a situation where his criminal record showed his past.

“We helped him, and he got a job,” McLendon said. “He is now working and bringing home money he never had before. When this happened, we decided we needed to help some people who were entitled to receive some help. The DA;s office represents the people of Georgia and that includes people who have been convicted. For those who have not done anything, or have been exonerated, should have a right to put them back where they were before things happened.”

McLendon thanked Laray Avery, post arrest redirection director in the DA’s office, and Dublin City Councilman Bennie Jones for putting together the Expungement Workshop. He was also pleased with his staff who gave up a Saturday to help people with their issues.

Jones went to a Georgia Municipal Association convention and found out about a similar program held elsewhere.

“I heard other cities in the Atlanta and Augusta area was doing this, and I was interested in it,” Jones said. “I wanted to do that in Laurens County for a while. I just needed to get together with DA McLendon. I want to thank the DA for having his staff there to help and for the Dublin Police Department to be open so that people could go there and purchase a copy of their criminal record.”

Laurens County Commissioner Brenda Chain remembered when she began talking with Jones about this workshop.

“There are so many people who have been arrested and their cases were dismissed for whatever reason and it stays on their record,” Chain said. “That means they cannot get jobs. We thought this would be a great way for workforce development and help them be able to take care of their families.”

Chain owns four different businesses. She understands how background checks are important.

“If their cases have been dismissed, it should not follow them,” she said. 

Which has been the case for Jacqueline Denise Jaudon-Wright and Jada Coney. Wright’s issue, which stemmed from a county outside of McLendon’s circuit, 

was dismissed but showed up on her criminal record. Despite not being able to have anything done with it Saturday, she did receive advice on what she needed to do to correct her record.

“This shows that Dublin is about changing the attitudes regardless of your past, which now won’t affect your future,” she said. “My case was dropped (years ago) and it should not show up (on her record).”

Coney just wants to be able to apply for a job without having her pass case, which was dismissed, seen by a potential employer.

“It has been hard to get a job,” she said. “Now I have a second chance. God is good.” 

Jones encouraged people who were not able to be helped here, to go to the area they needed to in order to clear their record.

“The biggest thing is giving people hope again,” Jones said. “This program is a hope giver. They now have hope to get jobs that they didn’t think they would ever be able to apply for. Now we have more productive citizens to put into the workforce.”