About our Service Projects

Those convicted of a criminal offense in Ohio often face a lifetime of roadblocks. DEPC is home to two projects that provide Ohio residents with free criminal record relief assistance that can help them access jobs, housing, and more. The Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Project (OGEPP) provides support to qualifying applicants seeking a formal pardon under Ohio laws. Opportunity Port is an online portal that connects those with criminal records in Ohio with the free legal help they need to complete record sealing and expungement applications.

The Ohio Governor's Expedited Pardon Project

The Ohio Governor’s Expedited Pardon Project aims to expedite the process by which people apply for a pardon under Ohio’s laws. The project seeks to reduce challenges surrounding pardon applications in Ohio for people meeting certain criteria who can show that they have been rehabilitated and have contributed positively to their communities.

Governor DeWine launched the Ohio Governor's Expedited Pardon Project in 2019 in partnership with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and project team members the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and the Reentry Clinic at University of Akron School of Law.

Thanks to grant funding provided by ODRC, the project has expanded to include the following service providers:

• University of Akron School of Law
• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
• Cleveland State University College of Law
• University of Dayton School of Law
• Ohio Justice & Policy Center
• University of Toledo College of Law

Opportunity Port

Opportunity Port is an online portal that connects those with criminal records in Ohio with the legal help they need to complete record sealing and expungement applications. Record sealing and expungement enables those with criminal records to access vital resources, but the application process can be complex and time consuming. Persons seeking record sealing or expungement through Opportunity Port first complete a 5-minute survey on the website about their criminal record history. Eligible applicants then work with a legal partner to complete the application. Once filed, the court confirms the applicant’s eligibility, schedules a hearing, and the applicant attends a court hearing in front of a judge.

Opportunity Port began as a Columbus City Council initiative under the leadership of President Pro Tempore Rob Dorans. The goal was to simplify and streamline the process of completing and filing record sealing application in Franklin County, Ohio. The project was awarded $500,000 by The Ohio State University Alliance for the American Dream, a collaboration with Schmidt Futures, and brought to the Moritz College of Law to be managed by the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) in July 2021.

In the summer of 2023, Opportunity Port was awarded $75,000 by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Civil Justice Program to expand the project to additional locations across Ohio. With these funds, Opportunity Port was able to make its remote record sealing and expungement application assistance tool available in all Ohio counties.

A 2026 evaluation funded by a grant from the Ohio State Office of Outreach and Engagement showed that providing limited, low‑cost legal help—like DEPC's Opportunity Port—is an effective way to help people overcome barriers to successfully seal or expunge their criminal record. In April 2026, Opportunity Port was certified as a Program of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship by the Office of Outreach and Engagement. The certification process identifies projects that demonstrate excellence in community-engaged scholarship and meet the criteria of high-impact engaged scholarship. The same year, Hannah Miller, project manager for Opportunity Port, won the Community Engaged Practitioner Award.

NOTE: As of May of 2025, Opportunity Port has paused services to those living outside of Franklin County, Ohio until further notice.