May 26, 2017
Categories: clean slate

By CSG Justice Center Staff

Dina SarverAt 15 years old, Dina Sarver was adjudicated delinquent and served six months in a Florida residential facility. When she was released at 16, she earned her GED and went on to pursue her AA, but found that some of her educational opportunities—particularly a degree in nursing—were limited because of her juvenile record. Despite these roadblocks, Sarver continued to pursue opportunities, striving for a better life for herself and her children.

Now a first-year student at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law—and a member of the Clean Slate Clearinghouse Advisory Board—Sarver is using her personal experiences to advocate for expanded record clearance for juveniles in Florida. Specifically, she was a vocal supporter of Florida’s Senate Bill 386 (SB386), which was passed in the Florida legislature in 2016 and creates automatic expungement of juvenile records when a person turns 21. Before SB386, Florida law did not allow juvenile records to be expunged until the person turned 24 or 26, depending on the level and type of offense.

Sarver’s advocacy work has taught her about the power of personal stories and the role they can play in shaping the national conversation around record clearance. She is committed to using the Clean Slate Clearinghouse as a medium to share the stories of other people with juvenile records.

Learn more about Florida’s SB386.

Source: JusticeCenter