CBA Attorneys Offer Help Expunging Criminal Records This Saturday

CHICAGO, IL -- The Chicago Bar Association is partnering with community and educational organizations to help provide legal services for the public at an expungement workshop that will take place this Saturday, July 28, in Chicago’s Pilsen community. The workshop is being held at Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450 W. Cermak Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone needing help or information expunging or sealing their criminal records is encouraged to attend.

Individuals with previous criminal convictions or arrest records who want to determine if they are eligible for expungement and want to start the process to clear their records are encouraged to attend the event, which is being hosted by the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, Gamaliel Metro Chicago and the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. Volunteer attorneys from the CBA will be available to answer questions, determine if individuals are eligible, and assist with expungement and sealing application preparation at the workshop.

“The stigma of having an arrest or conviction record can make it difficult for those with criminal records to find housing, employment and educational funding,” said Maryam Ahmad, second vice president of the Chicago Bar Association. “There are legal remedies like expungement and other forms of criminal records relief that can help people make a fresh start and have a better future and the CBA is very proud to be partnering in efforts to bring this information directly to our communities.”

In addition to providing volunteer attorneys, the CBA has produced three videos that will be shown during the expungement event that explain other criminal records relief options in addition to expungement, including Criminal Disposition Errors, Illinois Healthcare Worker Waivers and Certificates of Rehabilitation.

Immigration attorneys will also be present at the event as well as information on employment, housing and other community resources. The expungement workshop on Saturday is one of the events that will be taking place during Fiesta Del Sol, the largest Latino summer festival in the Midwest, which will take place July 26-29 in Pilsen.