Shanyell McCloud of Clean Slate Milwaukee checks a man’s criminal record to see if he is eligible for expungement during the recent Check Yourself event held at the Park Lawn YMCA. (Photo by Scottie Lee Meyers)
In 2001, when they were in their early 20s, Jawania Brown and Fatimah Hooper were convicted of felonies for cashing forged checks. More than a decade later, they say those charges are preventing them from landing good-paying jobs that they’re qualified for.
“It’s like a life sentence. I was young, I had children and I was a single mom. That’s why I did it in the first place, because I didn’t see another resort. Every time somebody looks at my record now they think I’m some kind of monster,” Brown said.
Hooper became a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) in 2003. For the past 10 years, she’s applied to dozens of hospitals, but never been hired, Hooper said. She’s noticed a trend: When she submits her resume, she gets an interview. But when she submits an application, which almost always asks about criminal history, she doesn’t get a call back.
Hooper said she’s forced to work two low-paying jobs to make ends meet, which at the moment includes shuttling kids in a daycare van.
Shanyell McCloud founded Clean Slate Milwaukee two years ago.
Frustrated by their difficulty getting employment, the two women attended the Check Yourself workshop event held recently at the Park Lawn YMCA, 4340 N. 46th St.
The event is part of an ongoing series that offers resources to reduce the many barriers that stand in the way of employment. Future workshops will address driver’s licenses, financial literacy and child support services. The series is sponsored by Clean Slate Milwaukee, the city’s Fatherhood Initiative, Milwaukee Area Technical College and other community organizations.
Shanyell McCloud heads Clean Slate Milwaukee, which provides a fresh start through expungement services for young adults who have misdemeanor and non-violent felony convictions.
“I knew that criminal backgrounds were the number one barrier to not just employment, but housing, higher education, parental rights and a lot of other things. We aren’t going to move forward unless we address the issues of criminal backgrounds,” McCloud said.
Expunging a court record means the court seals the entire criminal case file, both paper and electronic, and only allows access to the file with a court order. Records are never fully erased and are still available to law enforcement without a court order. A judge’s order to expunge does not reverse or set aside a conviction. It merely makes it private.
If a judge orders a case expunged, any reference to it is removed from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website, known as CCAP, which is commonly referenced by employers and landlords.
Only crimes carrying a six-year or less maximum period of imprisonment and committed by a person under age 25 are eligible for expungement. The individual cannot be on parole and must pay back all restitution imposed by the court. Traffic forfeitures, civil cases and small claims cases cannot be expunged.
McCloud said many people she’s helped were convicted of nonviolent offenses for merely being in proximity to a criminal activity. Furthermore, she estimates more than half of the people she helps don’t know their record; some write on job applications that they are felons when in fact they committed misdemeanors.
After the workshop, Hooper had a new sense of hope.
“I can’t wait until I call [McCloud] next week to help me with this. I hope it works, I’m praying on it, because that’s my main thing. Just make my record private, so employers can’t see it. Because I like to work and to take care of my family,” she said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of Shanyell McCloud’s first name.
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The last line is so valuable. “I like to work and to take care of my family.” I do not know too much about it, but this is a potentially valuable service. Depending on the nature of the transgression, I hope this program works out for all involved.
I would like to know have anyone got back in contact with you or anyone you may know of…
Looking to help mother take control and find support in how to get that second chance and get her girls back .I have girls now she has cleaned up house and her self but what is next ? i like to be there for her her girls love her so much.
I am a grandmother in a very similar situation. My daughter wrongfully and illegally lost her daughters. The girls have gone through several abusive situations at the hands of these ” foster parents” my oldest grandchild has been placed on medicatipn because she suffered real intense separation anxiety . The Caucasian couple of which they reside has managed to adopt our children. I’m told that there’s one year after this occurs to revert the outcome.. in reference to various individuals in this community, such as ” kidds matter milw” which proofed my letters addressed to the court’s. However because of the ill nature of thie removal they were reluctant as to the amount of support they could/ would offer my family. When you have a really large man telling social workers ( for the state) and the children’s family that he’s the person that puts the girls ” my God” between his legs and tries to comb their hair bevause neither himself nor his wife can style african American hair? Also this same man also says to my family that his own family has disowned him for the ladt twenty years or so stating that they weren’t seeking hostaging our children. The wife does not say much he looks at her she drops her head. Clearly some sort of disfunction is present! Which brings me to the reasons for illegally holding our children. ” no one in our family is fit” we host a lot of disfuction. My point is that most family’s have some sort of disfunction. Why are we being punished more importantly why are the children.. they need to RELEASE OUR HOSTAGES!!!.. Thanks for your time.
I am a father and would love to know more about this. I have a non violent felony conviction that’s over 14years old. And it is making it difficult for me to find employment and to pay full child support.
if the person was older than 25 this dosent apply to them?
Will expungements apply to people over 25
Will expungements apply to people over 25
If one has a gun charge from their youth, that was said to be sealed, yeat was
Opened for employment by Milwaukee Police, can this be resealed?
Dear Ms. McCloud,
I do apologize for not thinking clearly yesterday. I have to admit it, when facing up to my past including the terrible things that I have done wrong throughout my life, literally, I looses my mind. For the most part, I can’t think or speak clearly. I Hope you find it in your heart to except my apology and forgive me for my stupidity yesterday. After admitting my faults and actions, everything became crystal clear. If possible, I would like for you to help me with getting my criminal record expunge, Please call me at (414) 395-3729. Clearly I am awake and aware that during time I was only 21. Thank you and have a bless day Ms. McCloud.
How can you guys help me can someone please give me more information
I would like to know about this service and possibly need your help with an expungement off my criminal record. Being a CNA and trying to gain employment in a higher paying positions is absolutely impossible with a background that’s has happened 26 years being the first one and 14 years being the last one I can even graduate from college or take my final nursing exam because of this.
plz help me
I need help asap. Please contact me.
I attend a session and found there is no help for felony conviction.
I need help also too I want a better life
I thinks that unfair for the people that 25 and older. Like myself, my felony is over 15 years old and I’m still hvin a hard time getting a job! And I can’t get a expungement cause I’m not young enough, and thanks to walker, I can’t get a pardon. Wht a girl suppose to do?
I would just like to add that programs like this should be geared to everyone depending on how long it’s been that you haven’t been in any kind of trouble with authority. I’m 47 yrs old I got in trouble at the age of 22 yrs old an yes to this day my past has been haunting me and I feel like I’ve been sentenced to life without ever entered a state penitentiary, I tried numerous of times to try and help myself to no avail for something that’s happened in 1989 an still to this day when it comes to getting a job the answer is still no an it’s now 2015 for aggravated robbery that I didn’t even commit just hanging with the wrong people living my life to fast an now doing whatever I have to just to live here in a place called America. Is this a 3rd world country cause it feels like one to me. Ijs
ATTENTION TO CNA AND OTHER HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THOSE EMPLOYEES UNDER THE CIB REPORT! I have gone through simular situations with law enforcement trouble. Having a record expunged from the public view is only for CCAP BUT NOT THE CIB REPORT WHICH IS LIKE A FBI REPORT. THIS CIB REPORT AND CCH REPORT ARE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS, WHICH NOT ONLY REPORTS YOUR CONVICTIONS BUT ALSO ARREST RECORDS. EMPLOYERS CAN AND WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS. IF IT IS EXPUNGED FROM THE STATE RECORD IT IS SHOWN AND NOTED ON THE CIB REPORT THAT YOU HAVE THUS RECORD AND GIVES THE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE ETC… ONLY WAY TO REMOVE THE DISPOSITION FROM COMPLETE ACCESS TO EMPLOYERS IS TO GET FINGERPRINT REMOVAL. THIS GAS CERTAIN CRITERIA, VISIT THE WEBSITE CIB BACKGROUND CHECKS, OR GOOGLE FINGERPRINT REMOVAL. HOPE THAT THIS WAS USEFUL AND GOOD LUCK! :-) :-) :-)
Hi , I am a convicted felon from almost 40 years ago. I usually get some interest in a resume , but as soon as the applications come out asking ‘were you ever convicted…’ there is nothing. It got to a point where if they gave me an application with that on there I just left or gave it back. Your debt to society is always going to be there ,it never goes away. I saw clean slate on tv tonight and right away looked it up. I hope this helps a lot of people , I’m not elidegable.
I have found out about the ccap and cib. that post is true as far as I’ve found out. Good luck to all
I guess im trying to understand who this program can and cannot help. I may be wrong, but doesn’t the governor has to sign?….Its my understanding Scott Walker doesn’t. Can this program help people over 25?
Hi my name is Dan and I would be very interested in getting my record sealed / I have 2 felony’s from 1992 for pot . Possession with intent to deliver and delivery of a contral substance . This happened when I was 22 and that was 24 years ago . I haven’t been in trouble since besides a speeding ticket a few times . I’ve been a business owner since 1993 because I couldn’t find a job that would hire me . I’ve lived in my house that I built in 1998 and still live there . I had a great offer to work at a top compnay and got turn down because of them convictions . My credit is over an 800 and been a law abiding citizen since that happened . Can some please help me ? I would being willing to help others as well . Thank you
My name is ROY DUNBAR my email is ROYDUNBAR77@yahoo.com I would like to learn more about project clean slate involve myself in the program. my number is 262-239-0013
I currently am employed but its not enough. I have 4 children, living check to check. Im 30 working a job a 14 year old would do. Please help if you can. If not i thank you anyway.
I want to know is there any Program in Place for non-violent Felons to be expunged.. If not then what can We do to initiate One?
i have a class i felony for what is basically self defense. would i be able to get an expungement if im 23, and only have these as a first time offender. i have one for fighting in jail because i was provoked to the point of needing to fight. and i have another because of harrassment. Am i going to have to leave the country
So basically if you get a Felony Conviction after the age of 25, you’re just a ‘sitting duck’ ?
I’m self employed and I lost a major job at the airport from a nonviolent felony over 25 years ago . I completely forgot about until they told me
I appreciate your comments on how criminal backgrounds can make it a struggle to get employment or housing. My little brother has had some trouble in the past and is looking to get his records expunged now that it has been so many years. It would be beneficial for him to find an attorney to help with this so that he can get better job options in the future.