Stand Up for Justice: Romeo’s Story

For many years, Romeo Jackson struggled to move forward following his incarceration. After serving time for drug charges in the 90s, his greatest desire was for a second chance to live right, work, and build a better life. However, like so many others, he found that the weight of his conviction made it nearly impossible to move on.

Romeo knew that expungement, the legal clearing of a criminal record, was a clear path toward his second chance. But the process is costly. Across Kentucky, the filing fees for expungement range from $100 to $250 per case and do not include the attorney’s fees. These expenses deter thousands of eligible Kentuckians from applying for expungement. 

The Louisville Urban League’s Center for Justice and Policy Initiatives offers expungement services to eligible applicants at no charge through the Reily Re-Entry Project. Romeo knew that going through the program was his best chance to clear his record and rebuild his life. He completed the process, was awarded expungement, and began to fully enjoy his life by obtaining a passport and traveling abroad. 

Then a single event shattered Romeo’s newfound peace. In the process of defending his home from intruders, he was arrested for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Romeo was dumbfounded; he knew his record had been expunged years earlier. He hired a private attorney after spending several months in jail and was quoted an additional $1,500 to $3,500 to refile his expungement paperwork. A cost too great to bear.

He contacted the Urban League again, hoping they could help him sort out this misunderstanding. Our paralegal, Casey Serrano, researched the case, provided the necessary documentation, and assisted in proving his innocence. “Casey was a big help; she stayed in contact with me and worked hard on my case. When the charges were dropped, I finally felt like I could breathe again.”

Romeo encourages anyone struggling with their past to trust the process, stay patient, and let the Louisville Urban League help change their lives, just as they helped change his.

Romeo Jackson, Reily Re-Entry Project participant

The Reily Reentry Project is designed to assist persons seeking to expunge their records. The project facilitates the expungement process and covers most, if not all, related fees at no expense. In exchange, participants are asked to enroll in any League program that will equip them with the tools they need to achieve greater success as they move into more prosperous futures. For more information, visit lul.org/justice or call (502) 585-4622.