KAYSVILLE—There are about 800,000 people in Utah who have a criminal record. Long after that can still be a barrier to opportunities, employment and professional licenses. Davis Technical College (Davis Tech) has partnered with Rasa, a legal tech company to provide vital support to justice-impacted students. Davis Tech and Rasa will hold an event on June 18, to announce the partnership and what it means for current and past students.

“I met (Davis Tech) President (Darin) Brush a year ago and we immediately connected,” said Noella Sudbury, CEO and Founder of Rasa. “We could see a lot of overlap. Although we don’t collect data, there could be many who come from that background. It might be a more common barrier for graduates of Davis Tech.”

Sudbury said they considered what should be done to help them. “President Brush thought there was a high percentage of students there who struggled with this. We’ve developed a tool that counts a person with a record to see if they are eligible for expungement under Utah law.”

Hopefully students can graduate without a record, she said. “We want to support students and empower them with the knowledge they need to take action. To give someone with a record a path to hope and transform opportunities in their life combined with a clear record that leads to more future employment.”

 Sudbury is an attorney who has had a career as a public defender. “I worked with people in the system but it is broken. I would see clients who were doing the hard work then they ran into a brick wall to get employment and make a living wage.”

The law punishes people forever, she said. “It’s bad for public safety, the economy, etc. If they can’t get jobs and get housed they can’t support a family. I was passionate about how tech could help them go through the system faster and better.”

Rasa has developed sophisticated computer software that analyzes criminal record databases and streamlines many of the complex and time-consuming steps associated with determining eligibility for expungement, a company release said.

“It makes the process available to Utahns that have a criminal record and don't know where to start,” said Sudbury. “Things like shoplifting can impact them years later. Education, government and nonprofits need to work together to solve the problem.”

Individuals without records are 63% more likely to secure job interviews, according to Rasa, with their wages increasing by over 22% within a year of record clearance.

“Knowledge is power, and by equipping our students and graduates with the means to overcome challenges, we are enabling them to pursue better job opportunities and achieve their personal as well as professional goals,” said Brush. “Too many students and graduates are overlooked because of past mistakes, and we hope to prevent that in the future.” 

The event will be held June 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Davis Tech, located at 435 Simmons Way, Kaysville. It is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP visit davistech.splashthat.com.

Panelists include: 

• President Darin Brush, Davis Tech 
• Commissioner Lorene Kamalu, Davis County
• Brian Redd, Executive Director, Utah Department of Corrections
• Amy Daeschel, CSW, CASUDC, Justice impacted Advocate

“We’re eager to have people come,” said Sudbury. “We have a terrific panel. We want to raise awareness for those who have a criminal record that you’re not alone. In order to make progress we need a community.”

Come to learn what these incredible people in Utah have to offer, she said. “They can build a better future for Davis County.”

To register for the event, please visit: https://davistech.splashthat.com/

For more information on Rasa, please visit: https://www.rasa-legal.com/