CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Having a criminal record is a common problem that affects a lot of Utahns. More than 1 in 4 Utahns has a criminal record. Having a record can prevent you from many opportunities in life, like getting a better job, renting an apartment, qualifying for a loan or even volunteering in your kid’s school.

Even after serving your time and paying your debt to society, that record can stay with you and hold you back until you have it expunged.

A Utah-based legal tech company wants to help. Rasa Legal is on a mission to help clear as many eligible records as possible by removing the complicated and costly barriers that often get in the way of that process.

Utah expungement law

Utah’s Clean Slate law went into effect in February 2022, automatically expunging more than 500,000 criminal records. Despite the significant positive effects of this legislation, people who have had their records cleared are not notified of the expungement.

Rasa’s online tool can tell people in under three minutes exactly what’s on their Utah criminal record and whether it’s eligible for expungement. If your record wasn’t automatically cleared, Rasa can provide affordable options to clear eligible records.

Benefits of expunging a criminal record 

When a record is expunged, it is sealed from public view. A person has the right not to check the box when they’re asked about their criminal record on a job or housing application, and when someone pulls a background check, expunged records will not appear. This allows people with old and minor records to get jobs and allows employers to access needed talent without fear of liability or risk to public safety.

Rasa provides affordable legal representation

If someone has records that qualify for expungement, Rasa offers an affordable legal solution. Instead of the $1,500 to $3,000 legal fees most private attorneys will charge, you can get started for $250 per expungement case in Utah (does not include government fees).

In addition, Rasa is partnering with employers and associations to help cover the cost of record clearance. In this tight labor market, helping to clear criminal records can be a great recruiting and retention tool that can help employers access needed talent and retain and promote good workers.

Under these programs, employers or associations create a budget for the program, decide who qualifies for the program and help cover the cost of the legal work to help someone move forward.

Rasa customer testimonials 

Online testimonials attest to the high quality and positive impact of Rasa’s services:

“Rasa has definitely been a game-changer for me. I have a not-so-pretty past (and) Rasa has made it a lot easier for me to finally hold my head up. The help I got from them is priceless! Not to mention the absolute best human beings there! Not once did I feel any judgment, nothing but pure love! Thank you Rasa for being a part of helping me clean up my past!” said MC, a Rasa client.

“Best. Day. Ever. Thank you so very much for all of your help in getting both of these charges expunged from my record! I passed my background check with my new potential employer and received a generous offer letter which increases my current salary by 17%! I am so excited! I hope you and Hollee realize how much you help people and the impact you have on their lives! I can’t thank you enough!” another Rasa client, JT, shared. 

Rasa is a public benefit corporation on a mission to make it easy and affordable to clear a criminal record

Rasa is a public benefit corporation that specializes in simple and affordable record expungement. It was founded by Noella Sudbury, a Utah lawyer and former public defender who saw an immense need for this service with limited options available. Sudbury is now the CEO of Rasa and works with a team of additional lawyers, software engineers and community advocates dedicated to helping people with records. 

Now is the time to get started 

Now is the time for people to get their expungement started. Rasa makes it easy to do, and it might not cost as much as you think. You can get started by using the eligibility tool for just $15 at Rasa-Legal.com.

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Resources

• Rasa Legal | Address: 180 E. 2100 South, Suite 206, South Salt Lake | Telephone: 866-521-0178 | Website.

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