Fort Worth Busts Illegal Fireworks Ring Ahead of July 4th

Dallas County will open applications next week for its 10th Annual Expunction Expo, giving eligible residents an opportunity to clear qualifying criminal records and improve access to employment, housing and educational opportunities.

The online application period begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, and closes at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 9. Residents without internet access can receive in-person assistance at several locations across Dallas County.

The Dallas County District Attorney's Office and the Dallas County District Clerk's Office organize the annual event. Officials said the program is designed to help people who qualify for expunction remove eligible arrests or charges from their criminal history, allowing them to start over.

County officials said individuals are "not eligible" for a standard expunction if they received a final conviction, probation, or community supervision. People who received a deferred disposition for a misdemeanor or Class C misdemeanor also do not qualify.

Some applicants may still be considered through a separate expunction pool. Officials said people with two concurrent criminal cases who were acquitted in one case but convicted in another are not eligible for a standard expunction but may apply for review through the pool.

To complete an application, residents should have valid government-issued identification, their date of birth, Social Security number, and case history available.

Applicants who need assistance can visit designated application sites, including Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on Hampton Road, Friendship West Human Services offices on Kiest Boulevard, and Tori Community Offices on Westmoreland Road, where representatives associated with the T.D. Jakes Foundation will also provide support.

Dallas County has not announced how many applicants will ultimately be accepted into this year's expunction pool.

Officials expect to notify applicants of their eligibility status by the end of August.

An expunction permanently removes qualifying criminal records from public access under Texas law, helping eligible individuals overcome barriers to employment, housing, and higher education.