Metro Atlanta residents who were arrested in Fulton County — but not found guilty of a crime — can start the process Thursday to have access to their arrest records restricted.
While the records will still be visible to law enforcement, the process would mean employers and others searching for criminal history would no longer find the arrests that did not lead to convictions.
It’s the second time Fulton County has offered a pre-screening service. After the success of the first, last fall, the Thursday event has expanded to include arrests by the Fulton County police and sheriff’s departments, as well as any one of the county’s 14 cities.
In the October event, three quarters of those who applied to have their records restricted were able to clear arrests from their records.
"There are thousands more out there who have made a mistake in life and face barriers to employment, housing and education," Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said in a statement. "We want them to have a second chance."
The event will take place at the Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resources Complex at 101 Jackson Street NE in Atlanta from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
To participate, bring a certified copy of the disposition of the case as well as a valid state ID with a picture on it. Separate applications are needed for each arrest. For arrests before July 1, 2013, there is a $25 fee.
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