Rasa Legal

Clearing the Way to a Clean Slate

Carrying a criminal record is a significant barrier to economic mobility, closing off opportunities to everything from finding a better-paying job and securing quality housing to qualifying for lower insurance premiums. The road to rebuilding a life with stability and opportunity can often feel insurmountable.

The good news is that over 20 million justice-impacted Americans are eligible under the law to have their records permanently cleared. For most people who qualify, however, the cost and complexity of this process puts expungement out of reach. Successfully clearing one’s record typically costs thousands of dollars in legal fees and also involves navigating a court process that varies by state and county. That’s where Rasa Legal comes in.

Delivering Streamlined, Tech-Enabled Navigation

Rasa Legal’s software is a powerful example of Navigation Technology: practical tools that help people map out the consequential decisions and complex systems that shape their economic lives. The company launched in 2022 to simplify the record expungement process so more Americans can find their path to a clean slate. Their user-friendly product is powered by AI-driven workflow automation tools and integrated with state criminal justice databases. Paired with attorney support, it enables (opens in a new tab) people to quickly understand what’s on their record, determine their eligibility for clearance, and take action to complete the clearance process.

Destiny Garcia is a single mom and domestic violence survivor, whose struggles with substance use left her with a lengthy criminal record. She applied for nearly 30 jobs and got rejected from all but one – which paid just $8 an hour for 10 hours a week, not enough to justify the bus fare to get there and back. Homeless and hopeless, she knew her only path to financial stability was through the confusing and complicated process of expunging her record.

Rasa was able to help Destiny navigate the expungement process more quickly than has ever been possible and at a cost she could afford. Today, she makes a good living running a nonprofit, is a first-generation homeowner, and even has a college savings account for her daughter – all because she was empowered with a clean slate.

Expanding Access Across the Country

Rasa Legal currently operates in Utah, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. To date, they have helped more than 35,000 Americans understand their record clearance options and if eligible, get a path to a clean slate. With support from NextLadder Ventures, Rasa is working to scale their platform to more states, and bring affordable record clearance within reach of millions of Americans eligible for relief.