On Feb. 23 Bakersfield College invited guest speaker, Nora Cregan, to explain the ethics of the expungement process to individuals seeking an education who have been arrested on false or minor charges. Nora Cregan is a lawyer, founder, and Executive Director of the Access Project who is teaming up with the rising scholars program to expunge minor offenses found on students records. Cregan also states that her firm has helped over 300 students since 2021.
“We give them a space to feel comfortable and heard. We give them a positive community where they can meet people who may have had the same experiences, where they feel more confident approaching college.” Stated educational advisor Omar Gamboa.
Lead faculty of the Rising scholars program, Bryan Hirayama, states The Rising Scholars program is dedicated to justice involving system-impacted students offer a whole bunch of services to them that are unique to their situation.”.
Because April is Second Chance month, Hirayama states that his team will host several events that month and offer resources such clothing drives and food donations. These services are available to those impacted by the justice system for over two years and still, the Rising Scholars team hasn’t been able to reach all that are affected.
“I think that this program is a vital bridge in the gap between information and processing to help the justice system impacted individuals.” Stated student Zach Keys. Alejandro Rocha, another student at Bakersfield college stated, “Sometimes people look down on me when I tell them about my past. I feel like their energy changes. For the most part faculty and staff are understanding. BC offers a lot of helpful services that keep you on track. I think students who see other students in the same position as them accomplishing their goals gives them motivation.”
Cregan explained that sometimes the system makes mistakes, and those mistakes can affect people for the rest of their life. “California does not seal records, sometimes things still show up and that might get in the way of future opportunities.”