V.I. Justice Initiative Empowers Lives, Aims for 50 Expungements in 2024
St. Thomas Social co-owners Sunil Sharma and Mac McClafferty present attorney Casey Payton, right, a check for $2,500 for the V.I. Justice Initiative. (Source photo by Ananta Pancham)
In a powerful display of her commitment to justice, attorney Casey Payton, founder of the V.I. Justice Initiative, marked significant strides toward her ambitious goal of securing 50 expungements in 2024. Speaking at the organization’s donor reception, Payton celebrated the recent achievement of her first expungement of the year, coupled with her impassioned advocacy for an auto-expungement bill that won unanimous approval from the Senate’s Rules and Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Thursday also marked Payton’s first appearance before the Senate, a pivotal moment she shared with the audience gathered at the reception. With the bill progressing through two committees, the hope now is that it will receive approval from the full body, she said. The impact of the V.I. Justice Initiative’s work was also vividly illustrated by speaker Jasmine Ware, who recounted her journey through the Virgin Islands’ justice system. Ware, initially arriving on island in 2020 as a FEMA disaster recovery specialist, found herself abruptly arrested shortly after her move. Despite overcoming immense personal challenges as a child, earning a full scholarship to the University of California Santa Barbara, and completing her master’s degree at Georgetown, Ware faced a sudden downturn after her arrest. Ware described the overwhelming emotions of fear, depression, shame, and loneliness, emphasizing her loss of control and the belief that her life would never recover. However, collaboration with attorney Karl Williams at the V.I. Justice Initiative became the turning point, leading to the dismissal of her case and the expungement of her record. Sharing her story, Ware said she wanted to be a ray of hope to others, demonstrating the transformative impact of the organization. Motivated by the same desire to instill hope, Payton founded the V.I. Justice Initiative to provide legal representation to those who cannot afford it. The organization’s strength is fortified by community support, contributions from dedicated young attorneys, volunteers, and generous donors, such as Mac McClafferty, owner of St. Thomas Social, who not only provided the reception space but also donated $2,500 that evening.
In a new initiative unveiled at the reception, Payton announced a partnership with the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to educate elementary and middle school-aged children about their rights, how to interact with law enforcement, and the potential economic repercussions of choosing to break the law.
Expressing his admiration for Payton’s impactful work, McClafferty presented a check along with Social’s co-owner and chef Sunil Sharma, emphasizing the genuine change being brought about in the community. “It’s one thing to raise money for a cause but it’s another to affect real change,” McClafferty declared, highlighting the impact of the V.I. Justice Initiative’s mission.