Fulton County wants to help clear arrests, charges and minor blemishes from citizens’ criminal records through an expungement event Jan. 27.
Those who have been arrested for misdemeanors, but not convicted, by Fulton police or sheriff’s deputies or Atlanta police, are eligible for the event. It will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the I.B.E.W. Building at 501 Pulliam St. SW.
In October 2016, at Fulton County's first-ever record restriction summit, 75 percent of people who attended had one or all of their arrests cleared from their records, according to a press release.
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“A criminal record can be a major barrier in seeking employment, housing and education,” says Fulton County Solicitor Keith Gammage. “It is more beneficial to us as a society to allow decent citizens the opportunity to work and live productive lives than to be held back by minor, youthful missteps resulting in a misdemeanor arrest. “
The process to expunge a charge usually takes more than 150 days, with much of the process being driven by the citizen obtaining key documents from agencies. This one-day event expedites the process.
Pre-registration is recommended to avoid long lines but walk-ins are welcome. On-site resources will include an ex-offender job fair and interviews, housing assistance for ex-offenders, free legal advice from Alston & Bird's volunteer lawyers and voter registration.
Call the Solicitor General’s Expungement Division at 404-612-4803 for more information.
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