Record Clearance Project

People who were denied emergency COVID payments because they were in custody should now apply by Oct 15: On September 24, a federal judge decided the IRS cannot withhold CARES Act emergency payments from people who are otherwise eligible solely on the basis that they are incarcerated. She ordered the government to make the payments to anyone who was denied them previously within 30 days of her order. This means the IRS will automatically issue payments to anyone who filed a... 2018 or 2019 tax return, or who used the online IRS Non-Filer Portal to make a claim but was denied relief because they were incarcerated. It is possible that the government will appeal and this might delay the delivery of payments, but in the meantime, if you did not file a claim you should do so by October 15, 2020 in order to be considered. https://www.lieffcabraser.com/cares-act-relief/

The RCP's crowdfunding campaign closes today! Please make your contribution now and pass this along to others! Thank you for enabling the Record Clearance Project to keep changing lives, especially during these desperately challenging times. Take good care all - and thank you. https://power.sjsu.edu/RCP

Friends: Please make justice a reality by joining the SJSU Record Clearance Project's crowdfunding campaign, now in its final stages! With a 99% success rate in court, the Record Clearance Project opens doors to new opportunities for clients, their families and communities and enables diverse, first-generation undergraduates to use their education to change lives. To those of you who have already contributed, a huge thank you! Please encourage your friends to follow your... example and let SJSU students give people the second chance that the law provides and they deserve. With enormous gratitude for the things you make possible, The Record Clearance Project Team https://power.sjsu.edu/RCP

The Record Clearance Project's crowdfunding campaign has reached 50% of its goal! Thank you to every supporter for helping to sustain this life-changing work! With your support, students' efforts to achieve equitable outcomes and promising futures for RCP clients will be more impactful. If you are able, please go to power.sjsu.edu/RCP and donate any amount you can.

The RCP welcomed the new group of students to class on Thursday. Since all classes and client assistance will be online this semester, students joined from all over the state. Three former RCP clients spoke to them about the importance of their work. One of the speakers wrote afterward: "I am grateful to help inspire these students who will make such an impact on our community and on a population that is underrepresented and overly disadvantaged which is very close to my hear...t. I will always try to be available to help RCP in any way I can." The classes have been full since May, with a waiting list. Please help support the crowdfunding campaign so that we can assist as many students and clients as possible! https://power.sjsu.edu/RCP

As the Fall 2020 semester is approaching, the Record Clearance Project is transitioning to a remote learning model. While the pandemic has imposed significant challenges on many of our endeavors, we are committed to providing just as an effective, high-quality learning experience for our students and services for clients. One former RCP client wrote: "Your program has helped me tremendously and I'm continuing to work toward a brighter future for myself...It has changed my life and opened new doors for me. Recently I accepted an offer as a contractor with one of the major social media companies in the Bay Area, beginning the next step in my career. Thank you again. What you guys are doing is changing lives!"

Join former RCP students and clients in launching the SJSU-hosted crowdfunding campaign! Add your voice for justice at https://power.sjsu.edu/RCP Then invite your friends to further the power of this life-changing, award-winning work!

Yesterday in court, Judge Erica Yew granted all 14 petitions that the Record Clearance Project filed on behalf of four clients. Noting the strength of these "four strong women" in overcoming major challenges in life, Judge Yew commended them on the positive changes they had made and the bright promise for the future that they hold. After the hearing, RCP attorney Peggy Stevenson mentioned the recent passing of benefactor Carmen Castellano, in a hearing RCP dedicates to her memory. The Castellano Family Foundation has supported the RCP in its work on behalf of its first generation primarily Latinx students furthering their education and on behalf of low-income community members who benefit from the free legal services that the RCP provides.

On behalf of the SJSU Record Clearance Project, we convey our deepest condolences to the Castellano family for the loss of Doña Carmen, an inspirational leader, visionary philanthropist, energetic community member and generous soul. The SJSU Record Clearance Project is profoundly grateful for her kindness, which has supported hundreds of SJSU Latinx students and others in enriching their education and becoming leaders themselves, and has enabled thousands of Latinx and othe...r community members to learn of their rights to overcome barriers of past mistakes. Continuing the struggle for social justice in her memory, The SJSU Record Clearance Project

Recently, in two on-line hearings, Judge Erica Yew cleared the records of eight Record Clearance Project clients, dismissing their combined 38 convictions, reducing all eligible felonies and forgiving about $13,700 in eligible court debt. Judge Yew invited the SJSU students who had assisted the clients to speak regarding them. She then welcomed the clients to speak as well. Many other RCP students attended via phone to witness the power of this work. "The phone court was a ...unique experience. Despite everything happening in the world right now, I’m grateful that I was given the opportunity to take part and share my gratitude to the judge and my client," said graduating senior Elizabeth Gonzalez. The mother of an RCP client later wrote: "Thank you [to] all those in the Record Clearance Project for your noble work, for looking inside the person not at just their actions, for standing up when nobody else had, and most of all, thank you for holding on to such strong principles and ethics. There is a special place in heaven for those that lift up the hardest to reach."

Our hearts break for George Floyd, his family, and the Black community across the country. The Record Clearance Project is fundamentally based in inclusivity and recognition of the gifts our diverse community brings to all of us. We recognize our collective responsibility to take a stand against racism and strive towards justice.

We are deeply grateful to the Castellano Family Foundation for their continued support for Record Clearance Project clients and students as we all face unprecedented challenges. The RCP is working remotely on clients' cases to ensure brighter futures for all of us as we weather -- and emerge stronger -- from these challenges.