These HBCU Grads Built A Platform That Makes It Easy To Clear Your Eligible Criminal Records
Howard alumni Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman are the founders of LegalEase, a justice‑tech startup helping people find their expungement eligibility and file court petitions within minutes. Their Expungement.ai platform provides users with a conversational experience to discover their expungement through voice, web chat, or SMS text.
Helping people find jobs and housing
In the US, nearly 8% of adults and around 33% of African American men have a felony conviction, according to a 2010 study by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. Additionally, a report by The Sentencing Project found that Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans.
These alarming statistics mean that it is increasingly more challenging for Black citizens in the US to find employment and housing.
“Too many neighbors have waited years for a second chance,” Blackmon said in a press release. “By letting folks call, click, or text their way to a clean slate, we’re proving that equal justice can scale—from Jackson today to every zip code in America tomorrow.”
The service is currently avaliable in Mississippi and will open in Illinois and the DC/Maryland this fall. It will be available nationwide within 18 months.
About the founders
Blackmon graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, a JD from Mississippi College, and an LLM from George Washington University. He comes from a law background as his father, Edward Blackmon, is also an HBCU graduate of Tougaloo College and has been a practicing lawyer in Mississippi for the past 40 years.
Roman graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and African American Studies. He is a two-time tech founder, investor, ecosystem builder, and a recipient of the Google Black Founders Fund. He currently serves on the board of Starting With Today, a Black mental wellness nonprofit based in the Washington, DC area.
Image: LegalEase
