Clean Slates and Clean Cuts

Just City is launching a two-part expungement outreach series at local barbershops this month. We are partnering with two shops – Christyles Celebrity Cuts (Downtown) and Jus Cutz (Southeast Memphis) – to offer expungement consultation and assistance in a no pressure environment. The idea was inspired by the Defender Association of Philadelphia and the South Philly Participatory Defense Hub. They hosted a pop-up expungement clinic at The Classic Hub earlier this year.

In Memphis, these two events are being organized by Joia Thornton, Program Coordinator at Just City. After organizing several clinics in more traditional settings like libraries, churches, and community centers, Joia has cultivated these more non-traditional partnerships, which will help Just City’s Clean Slate Fund meet people in spaces where they already gather. 

The barbershop series will be supported by Just City staff, volunteers, and local attorneys. After the June series; Just City will be looking to partner with other barbershops to bring this opportunity to more Memphis neighborhoods next June. 

Last year, Just City received more than 1,200 expungement inquiries and paid for expungements for 160 of those people. Over the last three years, Shelby County Zip Codes 38019 and 38127 were the source of more expungement inquiries at Just City than any other neighborhoods, and we received more than 3,000 requests for assistance over that same period of time.

Just City’s Barbershop Series kicks off Saturday, June 15th at Christyles Celebrity Cuts Barbershop, 500 S. Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 from 11am-2pm. The second in the series will take place on Friday, June 21st, 2pm-5pm at Jus Cutz, 3090 S. Perkins Road, Memphis, TN, 38118. Men and women are welcome to attend both clinics.

If you have an idea for a non-traditional partnership with our Clean Slate Fund, contact Joia at joia@justcity.org