Partner Spotlight: Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice

Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, founded in 2005, is a nonpartisan organization of more than 400 St. Louis area members (and 2000 non-member subscribers) who believe that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social opportunities irrespective of race, gender, or religion. Our mission is education that we achieve through free public programs featuring knowledgeable speakers on a wide variety of social justice issues; and advocacy that we achieve by engaging our members and subscribers in rallies, letter writing, lobbying, etc. 

Our interest in Clean Slate began two years ago when we hosted a program that focused on reentry services in the St. Louis area. It was eye-opening for most of us to learn of the multiple obstacles that face people returning to our communities because of a criminal record, no matter how minor. Once we knew, we could not look away. We asked ourselves, where is the balance between punishment and ruining lives? And if there were state statutes that permitted expungements of eligible records, why do so few people pursue that relief?

As we began to look more closely at these issues, we learned that Missouri is not alone. We became aware of Clean Slate initiatives that were being enacted and implemented in other states, and we researched the potential benefits to individuals and their families, to communities, and to the State of Missouri. We initially joined Empower Missouri’s Community Justice Coalition in order to support policing reforms under consideration in the Missouri Legislature. We were thrilled when Empower Missouri began to focus on a Clean Slate Initiative for Missouri. We enthusiastically joined the ensuing campaign as a partnering organization in order to add our voices to those of other coalition members, as well as to benefit from the research and advocacy guidance offered by Empower Missouri.

We believe a Clean Slate Act will provide both help and hope to the half-million Missourians who currently meet eligibility criteria for record expungement. We firmly believe Clean Slate legislation is smart on crime, makes good business sense, and will boost the State’s economy. It is also the right thing to do. Justice includes hope and empathy. Those eligible under the current expungement statute have served their time and have earned a “clean slate” and a second chance.