June 11, 2024.
It’s a date that may not stand out to most of us – but for 173 people, it marked the first step on their path toward a new life.
Hosted by a collaborative task-force known as the Clean Slate Initiative, New Jersey residents with criminal records and law experts came together to navigate the legal system and file petitions for their criminal record expungement. It goes far beyond legalese: the goal of the project is to transition qualifying folks into being able to participate in society by accessing education, employment, and housing.
Helmed by Salvation and Social Justice and the NAACP NJ State Conference, this singular event in Trenton, NJ will have lasting effects on hundreds of lives. Incurrent was on-site, conducting the nonprofit video production to tell the story of the day.
Artistry in Filmmaking
With a crew of 6 people, we were able to get b-roll footage of the event while setting up for interviews in a side room. When it comes to nonprofit video production, particularly at a busy event like the expungement clinic, our goal is to remain agile and unobtrusive, without compromising on artistry.
There’s no shortage of video content in today’s digital landscape. What sets Incurrent apart is not only the mission, but our commitment to artistry in filmmaking. And cinematography is a powerful creative lever. Our approach to the visual style centered around a method known as toplighting, creating striking portraits of our subjects that aligned with the messaging of the piece. “It comes down to being able to see someone’s humanity and provide them the dignity that a human deserves,” says Jared Hunter, a representative from Salvation and Social Justice.
Exploring Expungement
America has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and the punitive action doesn’t end when someone completes their sentence. Many employers and property management companies have strict policies that disqualify anyone with a conviction on their record – no matter what the infraction is or how long ago the incident may have occurred. Expungement, or record-sealing, means that an individual can lawfully say that they were not arrested, charged, or convicted. It allows them to participate in civilian life. And expungement works.
“Individuals who receive expungements have a lower recidivism rate than the general population,” says Malaeika Montgomery, a Deputy Public Defender in Mercer County, New Jersey. [https://www.mercercounty.org/]
Nationally, about 70% of people who spend time in prison will be convicted of a crime again within 5 years. For those who receive expungement, this number plummets – studies conducted by the State Bar of Michigan, for example, shows a post-expungement recidivism rate around 7%. https://www.michbar.org/journal/Details/Expungements-Setting-aside-the-confusion?ArticleID=4767
Why?
Poverty and mental health are the biggest drivers of crime.
When people face housing instability or are struggling to become gainfully employed, they run out of legal options to get ahead. Unless someone has an exceptionally strong support network outside of the carceral system, people are set up to re-offend. “Just because you served your time… until your record is expunged, you’re never going to be free,” says Courtney, a survivor of domestic violence. With a new lease on life, people can live on their own terms. “One charge, one crime, one mistake… does not define the entirety of a person,” says Jared Hunter.
Creative Strategy in Video Advocacy
In order to tell this story, Incurrent produced a nonprofit impact video that followed 9 of the event’s participants.
We had only one shot to bring this video to life, sourcing interviewees for the video production at the event. This required empathy: it’s a tough sell, getting people to sit down in front of the camera, under bright lights, and open up about extremely personal matters of criminal conviction. We were able to build trust because we align with the mission of our clients who are doing meaningful work. We don’t point and shoot, we’re storytellers that want to drive our partners’ goals forward. With boots on the ground, working in nonprofit video production means we don’t just get to exercise our expertise – we also get to grow as people. We get to do meaningful work.
Like the many nonprofits we collaborate with, it’s our mission to advocate through masterfully produced video. To do this, we compassionately educate around the issues. We tell meaningful stories that allow viewers to connect with the humanity of everyone involved with your organization. The resulting impact video was a resounding success. The Clean Slate Initiative was able to secure funding for more expungement clinics throughout the state, taking place throughout 2025. [https://www.nj.gov/defender/community-events/20250429_return_restore_newark.shtml] The 7-minute video also received national attention, earning a gold Anthem Award.
Watch to see for yourself how powerful nonprofit video production helped to change lives. Reach out to explore how nonprofit impact video advocacy can amplify your organization’s mission.
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