This article was originally published on 02/22/2019

The United States’ incarceration rate is five times higher than most other countries in the world with 716 people for every 100,000 residents incarcerated, as reported by Prison Policy.

When you have a criminal record, the consequences extend beyond serving time and can involve being denied housing, employment, and even the right to vote.

Most states have record clearance laws, but the process can be long and confusing. However, one Code for America project aims to make the process much more accessible.

Clear My Record is a free online tool assisting people in California with navigating the complicated process of clearing their record. People can fill out a “short, easy-to-understand” application online that typically takes 10 minutes to get connected with a public defender or legal aid attorney.

Currently, 14 counties have public defenders or legal aid officers who use Clear My Record.

“A criminal record becomes a lifelong sentence, serving as both a direct cause and consequence of poverty,” the project’s founder, Jazmyn Latimer, said, “Code For America is working to streamline and automate the record clearance process to provide a fresh start to millions of Americans.”

Since April 2016, Clear My Record has helped over 11,000 people connect with attorneys. Not only did the tool drastically reduce the time to apply from days to minutes, but people are hearing back from attorneys faster. Instead of waiting 3 months, people hear back in 3-7 days.