Rasa Legal Uses AI to Scale Criminal Record Expungements

Noella Sudbury, founder of the legal tech startup Rasa Legal, is using artificial intelligence to streamline the criminal record expungement process. Since 2022, the company's application has helped 34,000 people clear their records in Utah, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, facilitating easier access to employment and housing.

The AI technology identifies eligibility in three minutes and has reduced the time lawyers spend filing petitions by more than half. By cutting the average case time from 10-12 hours down to approximately five, Rasa Legal is able to provide full legal representation for a $500 flat fee.

Sudbury, a former public defender who led the campaign for Utah's 2019 Clean Slate law, plans to expand these services to all 50 states. This expansion faces obstacles due to fragmented state and county databases.