Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree wants people with criminal records to know something: a previous conviction doesn’t have to define your future.
His office will host its 7th Annual Expungement Fair July 29-30 at Kansas City Kansas
Community College Technical Center, giving residents a free chance to clear their records.
“Do not allow your past to prevent you from moving into your future,” said Dupree in a video message about the fair.
The two-day event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 6565 State Avenue. Thanks to grants,
everything is free—including the usual $200 court filing fee.
Dupree frames the issue in stark terms. The numbers tell a sobering story about barriers facing people with criminal backgrounds.
“Over 70 million people in this country have a criminal record, and the data shows that over 85% of employers will not call you back if you have a criminal conviction,” said Dupree.
Expungement changes those odds dramatically.
“If your conviction is cleared from your record, you have more of an 85% chance of receiving that call back for a job,” Dupree explained.
For the district attorney, this isn’t just about individual opportunity—it’s about crime prevention.
“As the prosecutor, my job is not only to lock people up, but it is to prevent crime from
happening,” said Dupree. “I am a strong believer that if you have the opportunity to make your own money with your own job, then you’re less likely to try to take someone else’s thus
becoming a criminal.”
Kansas law allows expungement for people who have stayed out of trouble for three to seven years after completing their sentence, probation, or parole. The waiting period depends on the crime’s severity—some DUIs require seven to 10 years.
But not everyone qualifies. The process has strict rules:
● All fines, fees, and restitution must be paid in full
● No new felony convictions within the past two years
● No pending felony charges
● No current requirement to register as an offender
● The crime must be expungeable under Kansas law
Certain crimes can never be expunged, including those involving sexual offenses, children, or murder.
The fair brings together Kansas Legal Services, the Wyandotte County Public Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and community organizations. They’ll help people fill out paperwork that typically costs thousands when done through a private attorney.
“You will not have to spend $2,000 on a criminal defense lawyer to file the paperwork, because again, you will have all of the help that you need right there,” Dupree said.
Prescreening has already begun. Interested residents should email
DAexpungement@wycokck.org with their name and date of birth, or call 913-573-2851 to
confirm eligibility before attending.