Free legal help will be offered to low-income Arkansans seeking to seal their criminal records.
The Pro Bono Expungement Clinic will be held at noon Friday, July 14, at the Department of Workforce Services at Pine Bluff, 1001 Tennessee St. An appointment is required.
The Center for Arkansas Legal Services is partnering with the Pine Bluff Department of Workforce Services and pro bono attorneys to host the expungement clinic.
Participants must have completed all the terms and conditions of their probation and paid all fees that were part of their sentence, according to a news release.
“The expungement clinic seeks to improve the lives of low-income Arkansans, whose past criminal record may bar them from obtaining employment, securing housing, or qualifying for a loan for a car, home, or education,” according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Individuals who need help will be able to speak to a lawyer and receive the legal documents they need to file with the court.
Participants must bring a copy of their criminal background check from the Arkansas Crime Information Center (www.acic.org) to the clinic and a copy of their Judgment and Commitment Order. Those who don’t have a copy of the order should visit the clerk’s office where they were sentenced and request a copy. They may be charged a fee, generally $5, to obtain copies.
Documents showing the successful completion of probation may also be helpful. Participants will also need their driver’s license or state-issued ID.
“Not everyone is eligible to have their criminal record sealed. If you have spent any time in the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) you are not eligible to have your criminal record sealed. Additionally, Class Y Felonies, Class A or B felonies that are not drug offenses (unless sentenced under the First Offender’s Act), Manslaughter, an unclassified felony with a maximum sentence of more than 10 years, violent felonies, and sexual felonies, are not eligible to have their criminal record sealed. Most misdemeanor convictions can be sealed,” according to the release.
To make an appointment for the expungement clinic, contact Zina Frazier or Julie Howe with the Center for Arkansas Legal Services at 1-800-950-5817 or 501-376-3423. People also may see if they qualify for legal assistance by calling the center or visiting www.arlegalservices.org.