An Interview with Wendy Freeland, Paralegal at the Expungement Help Desk
How did you end up working at Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic?
Wendy: I was working on my Certificate of Paralegal Studies at IUPUI when I saw a post that the Clinic needed volunteers, so I got connected and started volunteering at the Expungement Help Desk.
Initially, I was looking for legal experience, but once I started working at the Help Desk, I was drawn in from the beginning. I immediately loved the work and the people we work with there. I learn a lot from them – listening to their stories. Most of them have been through a lot, and they’re really people of character. Through the hard things they’ve been through, they’ve developed that character. I enjoy working with them, so I became an intern, then finally an employee at the Clinic. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work here. I don’t think I could ever find a job I love as much as working at the Help Desk.
One of the visitors to the Help Desk recently asked me how I found the job at the Help Desk. I told her I didn't find it. It found me. I really believe that. I was led here by God and the job found me.
What’s your favorite thing about working at the Help Desk?
Wendy: I really love working with the people we serve and hearing their stories – I also love being part of their future and helping them get on a different path. I think many people don’t realize how much of a hindrance a criminal history is to being able to find jobs and housing and help with your kid’s school activities or being able to be a foster parent or adopt your grandkids who need to be adopted. It creates so many obstacles to doing things that we take for granted. Even a simple misdemeanor can prevent them from getting a job or getting into college or pursuing any kind of degree or certification. It’s amazing how a poor choice made in a period of time that you were in a bad place can hold you back for the rest of your life, even though you’re not on that path anymore.
I like being a part of their story – that they’re headed in a new direction and they have hope and a future and new adventures ahead of them. I find it really rewarding to be just a small part of that. They’ve done the hard part – they’ve gotten their life back on track. Before working here, I didn’t realize what an obstacle a criminal record really is. It’s hard to make any forward progress. It’s a wonder they don’t give up. Working here, you become a more compassionate person, because you’re exposed to peoples’ stories that you never would have known anything about.
How does your faith motivate your work?
Wendy: The expungement law is called the Second Chance Law and it is providing those with a criminal history a second chance. It allows them to put their past behind them and to go forward with their future, and that’s the same thing that Jesus has done for me. He rescued me from who I was previously and gave me a hope for my future.
What would you like people to know about the Expungement Help Desk?
Wendy: I would like to get the word out that this is available. I want those who need to get their records expunged to believe that it works. We have a number of folks come in who are surprised at how easy we make it. They feel like it’s going to be a lot more difficult than it is. We do try to make it as simple as possible. People might not realize that they’ve been eligible for a while – but they didn’t think their felony could be expunged or they thought it would be more difficult to do. There are certain things that can’t be expunged, but the majority of things can. Just come in and ask us – we’ll certainly help with the process. Don’t give up before you’ve even tried.
I’m thankful that the Expungement Help Desk exists and that we’re able to do this for people. A lot of people thank us, and I’m like – no, we’re glad to do this – we love this – thank you for letting us do this for you.
The Expungement Help Desk is open to walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am – 4pm at the Gold Building at 151 N. Delaware St., Suite 550, Indianapolis, IN.
OR on Thursday afternoons from 12pm – 4pm at the Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way, Legal Resource Center.
We also have phone appointments available. For more information on the Clinic’s Expungement Help Desk, visit: https://www.nclegalclinic.org/re-entry-justice