Public Defender’s Office Offers Fresh Start Expungement Clinic

Having a juvenile criminal record can impact your ability to obtain employment, housing, and other benefits, even decades later. Since 2013 the Public Defender’s office of Hamilton County has provided legal assistance to get criminal and juvenile records sealed and expunged.

If you or someone you know has a criminal or juvenile record, preventing employment, housing or other benefits, the Hamilton County Defender’s office may be able to help. They offer an expungement clinic on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.

The clinic is located at 125 East Court Street on the 9th floor. These meetings are by appointment only. To get this assistance, call between the hours of 8:30am and 11:30am on the clinic date you plan to attend. Appointments are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. The appointment line is (513) 946-3666. Appointments are held between 1pm and 4pm that same day, for those who have scheduled.

Prior to coming you need to go to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to obtain a copy of your current police record. The Sheriff’s Office is located at the Hamilton County Justice Center, 1000 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The cost to obtain that record is $5, and must be paid in cash.

There is an Expungement Clinic Flyer to download and share with others, available in both English and Spanish.

Please note: The expungement services only apply to records generated in Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati. If you have a criminal record outside of Hamilton County, you will need to seek separate services to address the records within that jurisdiction.

Also, time limitations apply. You must be prompt arriving for your scheduled appointment at the clinic. It is also recommended that you come alone due to limited seating. For further details call their 24 hour information line at (513) 946-3711.

Again, the criminal record expungement clinic is held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, at 125 East Court Street on the 9th floor. Call between 8:30 and 11 AM on the appointment day you plan to attend to schedule an appointment. The number is (513) 946-3666. Appointments will be held between 1 and 4 PM that same day.

You can find more legal aid resources by selecting the “Legal Aid” option from the dropdown tab on our “Social Service Utilization Library” page.