Opportunity Port will remove barriers to record sealing and promote equitable access to jobs and housing
[COLUMBUS, OH] Opportunity Port, an initiative of the office of Columbus City Councilmember Rob Dorans, will begin assisting eligible Franklin County residents with criminal record sealing applications starting Wednesday, December 1, 2021. The initiative was a finalist in the 2020 Alliance for the American Dream competition sponsored by The Ohio State University in partnership with Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic endeavor by Google founder Eric Schmidt, to provide support for charitable, educational, and commercial efforts with a public purpose.
“This potentially life-changing opportunity will help move more Columbus residents into the middle class,” said Councilmember Dorans. “We’re aiming to give people their lives back, with a system that’s easy to use, and the legal support needed to seal their records.”
Opportunity Port’s online survey takes just five minutes to complete, after which an applicant can select a service provider to assist them with their application. Those initial conversations take place over the phone and completed applications are then prepared for submission to either the Franklin County Municipal Court or Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Service providers for Opportunity Port include the Franklin County Municipal Court Self Help Resource Center, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, and Equality Ohio.
One in three adults in the U.S. has a criminal record which can make it difficult to obtain the resources such as employment, housing, or federal students loans. Under Ohio law, people who meet certain eligibility criteria can have specific criminal records sealed to prevent employers, landlords and other members of the general public from accessing this information. Record sealing has been shown to improve employment opportunities, increase wages by 25% on average within one year, and reduce a person’s chances of re-arrest, so much so that those with a sealed record are less likely to commit a crime than the general population.
Historically, Franklin County record sealing uptake has been low. According to the 2020 Annual Report of the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk’s Office, only 1,582 applications were filed in 2020, and only 2,011 applications were filed in 2019. However, the Drug Enforcement & Policy Center at The Ohio State University estimates that over 300,000 individuals with cases at the Franklin County Municipal Court may currently be eligible for record sealing.
The Ohio State Legislature voted to expand record sealing eligibility in 2020 and the new law went into effect in April 2021.
“Reentry services are critical to uplifting communities disproportionately impacted by a criminal record, and Opportunity Port was designed to make the process easier,” said Councilmember Dorans. “Not only does Opportunity Port remove barriers for clients, but it also allows pro bono volunteers to help clients from anywhere. And with more people expected to become eligible for record sealing, Opportunity Port will help our legal community meet the demand here in Columbus and Franklin County.”
To learn more about Opportunity Port, visit opportunityport.org or contact the program by emailing info@opportunityport.org.
If you are an attorney and interested in serving record sealing applicants through Opportunity Port, contact Hannah Miller, Program Manager, at info@opportunity.org.
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