Many people in Memphis have trouble finding jobs due to past criminal records. An event Saturday aims to help ex-offenders apply to have certain nonviolent offenses wiped off their slate.

The office of Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn will host an expungement clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Teamsters Union Hall at 796 E. Brooks Road.

Though the event is geared toward members of labor unions and their families, organizers won't turn away anyone, said Kevin Phipps, a spokesman for the clerk's office.

Theft and low-level drug charges are on the list of charges that may be expunged under the right circumstances. However, certain violent and sexual offenses cannot be expunged, according to a list maintained by the Criminal Court Clerk's office.

More information about expungement is available on the Criminal Court Clerk's website, www.shelbycountytn.gov/2368/Expungements.

To start the process, people may visit the Criminal Court Clerk's website, download an expungement inquiry form, fill it out and submit it.

The Criminal Court Clerk's office is one of many organizations in Memphis that have hosted expungement clinics and similar events in recent years to help ex-offenders move toward more productive lives.

A similar event will take place March 28, when the Shelby County District Attorney's office hosts its fifth Restoration Saturday at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church at 920 Parkrose Road in Westwood. The Restoration Saturday events allow people not only to apply for expungement, but to apply to reinstate driver's licenses and address back child support issues.

Among the other supporters of expungement are criminal justice advocacy group Just City, which operates the Clean Slate Fund, and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has worked with the Better Memphis Fund to raise money and pay expungement fees.

Investigative reporter Daniel Connolly welcomes tips and comments from the public. Reach him at 529-5296, daniel.connolly@commercialappeal.com, or on Twitter at @danielconnolly.