Expungement program promises brighter futures for people with minor convictions

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Hundreds of Hillsborough County residents are expected to show up at the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus Saturday for a chance to clear up past mistakes.

A program launched by the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless initiative is giving people the chance to have certain criminal records expunged from their files.

The goal is to help people whose minor mistakes have meant a lifetime of hardship - in housing, employment, financial matters, and more.

Antoinette Hayes-Triplett with the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative says expunging your record also leads to a better life and ability to contribute to society.

"It will increase income which makes housing more affordable. It makes my job easier, so we have less people experiencing homelessness in Hillsborough County," said Hayes-Triplett.

After FOX 13 aired a story about the expungement program, more than 1,400 submitted applications.

The Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative, the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office, and other partners will be at Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus Saturday morning for the event.