Roy Jay: Project Clean Slate Provides Second Chances

Monday, September 15, 2014

Roy Jay, GoLocalPDX Contributor

traffic violation write up

You made a mistake. But that traffic infraction or minor crime still haunts you years later. Photo Credit: iStock

You were young. You made a mistake. But that traffic infraction or minor crime still haunts you years later.

Your license is suspended, or you have outstanding warrants, or you owe the court money for past transgressions and can’t see a way to pay it.

Here it is, years later, and you now have tried to clean up your act only to realize that the sins of the past are coming back as a barrier to getting that job, promotion, housing or other opportunity.

Where can you turn for help?

In 2005 Multnomah County Circuit Court teamed up with a private nonprofit organization called Project Clean Slate to assist those people that owe thousands of dollars in traffic fines by converting uncollected amounts to meaningful community service assignments.

The program was originally initiated to be a one-day, one-shot event to assist 500 people. The day of the event, nearly 3,000 local residents piled outside of Portland Community College in Northeast Portland to get a second chance on life.

Project Clean Slate

Fast-forward nine years later: Project Clean Slate has taken on a life of its own. The nonprofit program has assisted an estimated 8,000 people since 2005 in a variety of requests including traffic fines, improving their personal credit, expunging minor criminal convictions and being taught job and community skills to make them a better productive citizen and neighbor.

Project Clean Slate is serving those individuals who have traffic fines and minor criminal convictions in Multnomah County, but organizers have literally begged to expand to other counties.

As part of a one-year federal grant, Project Clean Slate received flying colors, producing an outstanding 83 percent success rate from individuals who did not return to the criminal justice system within two years. The program has a few critics who seem to think that it is allowing people to walk away from their obligations.

Not true. Taxpayers and the county are being repaid through supervised community service in a variety of creative areas.

In addition, the program requires clients to step up and voluntarily enter into a child-support payment arrangement. The community benefits from having fewer illegal drivers, as well as from individuals who have the desire to be productive citizens in their communities.

Rave Reviews for Project Clean Slate

Drivers License application

"I have not had a driver’s license in over 30 years."

Graduates of the program earn rave reviews for the techniques and methods of Project Clean Slate: performing community service instead of having to pay as much as $85,000 in delinquent traffic fines (the average is about $9,000).

One gentleman, at the age of 31, had all but given up on changing his life after realizing that he owed more than $117,000 in delinquent traffic tickets dating back to the last century. Project Clean Slate and Multnomah County Circuit Court said “Yes,” and today he's a productive citizen working on the docks as a longshoreman.

We did not mention any names in this article because those individuals have paid their debt to Multnomah County and changed their direction.

One such person is a gentleman who sat in the front row at Project Clean Slate court and listened attentively to every word of what the program could do for him and what he was required to do. To look at him, you would think that he was some type of business professional sitting in an uncomfortable surrounding.

At the end of the court session, he came forward and met with an Oregon state legislator with a tear flowing.

“I want to thank you for this program and your support of this program," he said. "You see, I have not had a driver’s license in over 30 years. I did some dumb things in my younger years and went on to raise a family and never told my wife that my driver’s license was taken from me.

"Today, at 57 years old, I was tired of driving the back streets of Portland trying to get to work and hoping that I was not going to be pulled over by law enforcement asking me that one sentence .. 'Driver’s license, registration and insurance please?' ”

Project Clean Slate was able to help the 57-year-old engineer with a master’s degree also get a second chance.

Project Clean Slate every month serves hundreds of people who must also attend mandatory “personal community and responsibility class” administered by local professionals. Once you are approved, there is a $350 fee to be a part of the program.

Seems like a small price to pay for taking the weight of a past offense off your shoulders, and allowing you to drive to work on the open roads, without fear.

For more information on Project Clean Slate visit www.projectcleanslate.com

Roy Jay is a businessman with a footprint from coast to coast and beyond. He has been ranked as one of the most intriguing people in Oregon politics, yet he does not hold office. Learn more at: RoyJay.Com

Photo Credits: iStock