This Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 12, religious leaders, local government, and key non profit organizations will come together to put on a Record Restriction Summit hosted at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta. According to a press release, this single day event for people who have been arrested in Fulton County and have a criminal record, will offer participants the opportunity to pursue getting their records restricted free of charge.
Pre-registration is required. To complete the application, go to www.fultoncountyga.gov/recordrestriction. The deadline to register is Oct. 27.
“Mass incarceration and the plethora of criminal records in Fulton County are a mirror of our times- challenging us to be more giving of ourselves and reflecting the reality of unresolved racism and economic inequity,” said Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple.
“A minor blemish on a person’s record should not be a barrier to their reintegration into society,” says Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts. “This event is a chance to identify those citizens who were charged but never convicted and to relieve them of issues that could have prevented them from getting employment or housing.”
“Even if you have made a mistake in the past, but you’ve proven that you are willing to move past that error, citizens deserve a second chance,” said Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard. “The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office believes in second chances, and we believe that’s the critical issue with record restrictions.”
In Georgia, it is estimated that 3.8 million people have a criminal history, over one-third of Georgia’s population. These charges mar the records of Atlanta citizens. Record restriction provides people with opportunity to secure better jobs, housing and access to colleges and universities.
This free Record Restriction Summit is sponsored by The Temple Rothschild Social Justice Institute, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, the Fulton County Solicitor’s office, the Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court, the Chairman of the Fulton County Commission, The Georgia Justice Project, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Cascade United Methodist Church, and the Veterans Empowerment Organization.
Information: www.fultonrestorativejustice.org or (404) 612-4803. For felonies: 404-664-4095.
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