HBCU Alumni Develop a Platform Streamlining the Process for Expunging Eligible Criminal Records
In a bid to provide a second chance to many, the justice-tech startup LegalEase has been founded by African American entrepreneurs Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman, both Howard University graduates. The startup aims to make the expungement process simple and accessible for people across America, particularly focusing on Black citizens [1][2][3].
Lawrence Blackmon, a practicing attorney and Mississippi State Representative, is spearheading the mission of making clearing criminal records routine and accessible. He emphasizes the importance of this initiative, stating that too many neighbors have waited years for a second chance [4].
Roger Roman, on the other hand, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and African American Studies from Howard University. He is a two-time tech founder, investor, and recipient of the Google Black Founders Fund. He also serves on the board of a Black mental wellness nonprofit. Roman envisions LegalEase as a platform that will enable people to clear their records as easily as paying a bill online [1].
Their flagship platform, Expungement.ai, is powered by an AI assistant named Wilma. This conversational platform provides a seamless experience for users to discover their expungement options via voice, web chat, or SMS text. Currently, Expungement.ai operates statewide in Mississippi, with plans to expand to Illinois, DC/Maryland, and nationwide within 18 months [1][2][4].
LegalEase offers both DIY and concierge service plans, and they plan to launch community clinics to broaden access. By using LegalEase's platform, people can quickly and easily determine their expungement eligibility and begin the process of clearing their records in about five minutes [5].
According to a 2010 study by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs, nearly 8% of adults in the US have a felony conviction. High incarceration rates of Black Americans make it increasingly challenging for them to find employment and housing in the US. A report by The Sentencing Project found that Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans [6].
LegalEase's goal is to help people, particularly Black citizens, find a second chance by simplifying the expungement process. The startup aims to make equal justice scalable, with the goal of reaching every zip code in America.
[1] LegalEase Founders Announce National Expansion, Forbes, July 2021 [2] LegalEase Co-Founder Roger Roman on Helping Black Americans Expunge Their Records, The Grio, August 2021 [3] LegalEase, Crunchbase [4] Mississippi State Representative Lawrence Blackmon on Expungement, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, September 2021 [5] How LegalEase is Helping People Clear Their Records, BET, October 2021 [6] The Sentencing Project, Racial Disparities in Incarceration, 2020
Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman, the African American entrepreneurs who founded LegalEase, are using technology to revolutionize education-and-self-development by making the expungement process easily accessible for Black citizens across America. Roger Roman envisions LegalEase's platform as a means for people to clear their records as efficiently as paying a bill online, with the AI assistant Wilma powering their flagship Expungement.ai platform for an effortless user experience.
