Starter Playbook
Legal & Restorative Justice
Host expungement clinics to clear records, launch community bail funds to prevent pretrial detention, and facilitate restorative justice circles as alternatives to incarceration.
What's Inside:
First Baptist Broad (Memphis) — 4,100+ expungements processed since 2018
Sample budget: $150 filing fees | $10K bail fund | $1.5K RJ training
90-day plan: Host first expungement Saturday or train Circle Keepers
Five Ministry Types You Can Launch
From expungement clinics to community bail funds and restorative justice circles, these ministries halt the extraction of wealth from Black households and facilitate labor market re-entry.
1. Expungement Clinics — Restoring Labor Market Participation
Transform your sanctuary into a legal processing center on a Saturday. Partner with legal aid societies and volunteer attorneys to clear criminal records that block employment, housing, and education. This ministry unlocks $4,000+ in annual wage increases per person.
First Baptist Church Broad — Memphis, TN
Under Pastor Keith Norman's leadership, First Baptist partnered with Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk to host massive expungement clinics. Since 2018, the county-wide partnership has processed over 4,100 expungements. Lines form hours before doors open, with hundreds of residents seeking record clearing.
- Total Expungements
- 4,100+ since 2018
- Avg Wage Increase
- $4,000/year per person
- Aggregate Economic Impact
- $16.4M annually unlocked
Economic Impact: 4,100 expungements × $4,000 annual wage increase = $16.4 million in aggregate income restored to Shelby County's Black residents annually.
Expungement Cost: Private Attorney vs. Church Clinic
| Cost Component | Private Attorney | Church Clinic | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney Consultation | $200-$300 | $0 | $300 |
| Record Retrieval | $20-$50 | Included | $50 |
| Petition Drafting | $1,000-$2,500 | $0 | $1,500 |
| Filing Fees | $150-$400 | $0-$150 (subsidized) | $150 |
| Lost Wages (Time Off) | 1-2 days | Weekend event | $200-$300 |
| Total Cost to User | $1,500-$3,000 | $0-$150 | ~$2,500 |
Mississippi Delta — Rural Labor Market Transformation
A single clinic in the Mississippi Delta resulted in 100 individuals in a rural Black community becoming eligible for workforce re-entry or post-secondary education. One participant, Mr. Brooks, was able to plan opening a home health aide company with his wife after clearing his record—demonstrating how expungement catalyzes entrepreneurship.
Economic Impact: Wage Liberation
- National Wealth Loss: Americans with criminal records have lost approximately $370 billion in combined wealth due to employment barriers.
- NYC Impact: Automatic expungement could lead to a $2.4 billion increase in annual wages for affected New Yorkers.
- Per-Person Gain: Missouri data shows $4,400+ annual wage increase per expungement—moving families from poverty to stability.
- Intergenerational Wealth: Parents accessing better jobs directly influences educational and economic opportunities for their children.
2. Community Bail Funds — Capital Recycling
Launch a revolving bail fund that posts full bail directly to courts. Because bail is returned when defendants appear for trial, the same $10,000 can be recycled to free multiple people—while preventing 10% commercial bail fees from leaving the community.
Ebenezer Baptist Church — Atlanta (Rev. Raphael Warnock)
Ebenezer Baptist partners with National Bail Out for "Black Mamas Bail Out" (Mother's Day) and "Freedom Day" (Juneteenth) campaigns. Rev. Warnock frames this as moral imperative: "We who believe in freedom cannot rest until we dismantle mass incarceration." National Bail Out has granted over $2.8 million for bail and support services.
- National Bail Out Total
- $2.8M+ granted
- Court Appearance Rate
- 92% (with support services)
The Multiplier Effect of Revolving Bail Capital
Example Scenario: A church raises $10,000 for a bail fund.
- Month 1: Post $10,000 bail for Defendant A
- Month 6: Defendant A's case concludes → Court returns $10,000
- Month 7: Use same $10,000 to post bail for Defendant B
- Month 12: Defendant B's case concludes → Court returns $10,000
- Repeat: Same capital continues to circulate
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital Recycling Rate | 89% (The Bail Project data) |
| Community Fee Savings | Avoids 10% commercial bail premium ($1,000 per $10k bond) |
| Annual Impact | $10k revolving fund can free 2-3 people/year (6-month avg case) |
| 10-Year Value | $10k investment → $100k+ in total bail posted over decade |
Economic Impact: Loss Prevention
- Job Retention: Bailing someone out within 24-48 hours preserves employment status. Even a few days in jail can result in termination.
- Housing Stability: Short jail stays lead to missed rent and eviction. Bail funds stabilize housing tenure.
- Family Integrity: 66% of women who cannot afford bail have minor children. Preventing detention avoids foster care placement.
- Capital Efficiency: $10k revolving fund = $100k+ in bail posted over 10 years, saving $10k+ in commercial fees.
3. Restorative Justice Circles — Diversion & Cost Avoidance
Train volunteer Circle Keepers to facilitate restorative justice processes for youth and adults. By diverting offenses from the criminal system, you prevent criminal records that block student loans, housing, and employment.
United Methodist Church — Peace with Justice Grants
The UMC funds restorative justice projects through micro-grants of $500-$2,000 to local churches. These cover training costs for Circle Keepers. Programs address youth offenses like underage alcohol possession or marijuana outside of court—keeping youth eligible for federal financial aid and preventing criminal records.
- Grant Range
- $500-$2,000 per church
- Example Recipients
- Grace UMC, New Waverly UMC
- Focus
- Youth diversion programs
Sample Budget: Restorative Justice Ministry (Annual)
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Circle Keeper Training | 3-4 day workshop (20-30 hours) for 3-4 volunteers | $1,200-$1,800 |
| Meeting Space | Church fellowship hall (in-kind) | In-Kind |
| Materials & Supplies | Circle guidelines, reflection cards, talking pieces | $200-$400 |
| Volunteer Stipends (Optional) | $25/circle x 12 circles/year | $0-$600 |
| Caregiver Support | Quarterly retreats to prevent burnout | $400-$800 |
| Total First Year | $1,800-$3,600 | |
| Volunteer Value: 2 facilitators × 3 hours × 12 circles × $34.79/hr = ~$2,500 in-kind labor annually | ||
Economic Impact: Future Earnings Protection
- Record Prevention: Diverting youth from felony charges preserves eligibility for federal student loans, housing, and employment—protecting lifetime earning potential.
- System Cost Savings: Processing a youth through traditional justice system is expensive (police, courts, detention). RJ circles cost a fraction using volunteer labor.
- Recidivism Reduction: Restorative processes reduce repeat offenses, lowering long-term policing and incarceration costs for neighborhoods.
- Volunteer Asset: Circle Keepers provide skilled conflict resolution labor valued at ~$420 per 3-hour session (4 people × 3 hrs × $34.79/hr).
4. Monthly Legal Aid Clinics — Civil Justice Access
Partner with legal aid organizations to host monthly legal clinics for landlord-tenant disputes, family law, and benefits claims. Your church provides the venue and hospitality; partners provide attorneys and malpractice insurance.
West Angeles COGIC — Los Angeles
West Angeles partners with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) and Christian Legal Aid to host monthly clinics. The church provides the trust and the crowd—LAFLA provides the professional liability umbrella and attorneys. Clients pay a nominal $30 co-pay to dignify the exchange.
Sample Budget: Monthly Legal Aid Clinic (Annual)
| Item | Detail | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Agreement | Legal aid org provides attorneys & insurance | $0 |
| Venue (Church Space) | Fellowship hall or classrooms | In-Kind |
| Volunteer Coordination | Intake specialists, hospitality team | In-Kind |
| Marketing & Outreach | Flyers, bulletin announcements, social media | $300-$600 |
| Refreshments | Coffee, snacks for clients waiting | $400-$800 |
| Total Church Investment | $700-$1,400 | |
Economic Impact: Asset Protection
- Eviction Prevention: Legal aid in landlord-tenant disputes prevents eviction, preserving housing stability and avoiding catastrophic homelessness costs.
- Debt Prevention: Free counsel prevents families from taking predatory payday loans to pay for private attorneys.
- Benefits Access: Assistance with disability, unemployment, and veteran benefits claims unlocks entitled income streams.
- Building Utilization: Converts underutilized church space into service delivery center, increasing social return on investment (SROI).
5. Community Paralegal Training — Workforce Development
Train church members as community paralegals to assist with forms, advocacy, and rights education. This creates a tiered legal service model that lowers costs and empowers the laity with marketable skills.
Paralegal Certification Pathway
Community College Paralegal Certificate
15-27 credit hours over 8-15 months. Cost: $1,500-$3,000 (often covered by Pell Grants)
Church Ministry Application
Handle housing navigation, benefits applications, simple expungement prep—freeing attorneys for complex litigation
Employment Pathways
Entry-level paralegal roles pay $35k-$50k. Volunteer experience = resume builder
Economic Impact: Vocational Pipeline
- Cost Efficiency: Tiered service model—paralegals handle simple tasks, licensed attorneys handle complex litigation. Reduces overall cost per case.
- Workforce Entry: Church-sponsored paralegal training creates pathway to $35k-$50k annual salary—lifting families from poverty to working class.
- Community Capacity: Empowered laity can assist neighbors with forms and advocacy, multiplying the church's legal impact beyond formal clinic hours.
- Educational Mobility: Paralegal certificate opens door to law school for motivated members, creating pipeline for Black attorneys.
Your 90-Day Sprint
Legal and restorative justice ministries halt wealth extraction from Black households. Start with one low-barrier intervention that leverages your physical space and community trust.
Host Your First Expungement Saturday
Days 1-30: The Partnership
- • Contact local Legal Aid Society or Public Defender's office
- • Request "Clinic in a Box" toolkit from Community Legal Services
- • Recruit 3-5 volunteer attorneys from congregation or local bar association
Days 31-60: The Logistics
- • Set date: Saturday 9am-3pm (6 weeks out for promotion time)
- • Secure $500-$1,000 "Justice Fund" from board for filing fee subsidies
- • Train 10-15 intake volunteers (2-hour orientation)
Days 61-90: The Marketing & Execution
- • Promote from pulpit: "Second Chance Saturday—Free Record Clearing"
- • Canvas 6-block radius with flyers in barbershops, laundromats, corner stores
- • Event day: Registration → Attorney review → Petition filing → Prayer
Key Metric:
Number of petitions filed × $4,000 annual wage increase
Train Circle Keepers for RJ Ministry
Days 1-30: The Candidates
- • Identify 3-5 members with conflict resolution skills (social workers, teachers, counselors)
- • Apply for UMC Peace with Justice grant ($500-$2,000) or similar denominational funds
- • Register for Restorative Justice training through local coalition
Days 31-60: The Training
- • Complete 3-4 day Circle Keeper certification (20-30 hours)
- • Cost per person: $350-$450 (subsidized by grant)
- • Practice facilitation in safe church environment with role-plays
Days 61-90: The Launch
- • Partner with local schools or juvenile court for referrals
- • Offer diversion services for first-time youth offenses
- • Facilitate first circle with co-facilitation for support
Key Metric:
Number of youth diverted from criminal records
Access Clinic in a Box toolkit, partnership agreements, and legal templates
Ready to Build Your Legal Justice Ministry?
Legal and restorative justice ministries are structural economic interventions—halting wealth extraction, restoring labor market participation, and protecting future earnings.