Free Expungement Clinic In Newark Will Help People Get A Fresh Start

NEWARK, NJ — An upcoming expungement clinic in Newark will help people with marijuana and other low-level criminal offenses to clear their records and get a fresh start.

The free event is open to adults over the age of 21. It will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 at Down Bottom Farms, 371-395 Ferry Street in Newark. Interested participants can RSVP online here.

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According to state authorities, court-ordered expungements can remove the following information from a person’s record:

• an arrest
• all court proceedings related to a case
• a criminal or juvenile conviction
• the outcome of a case, including sentence

“In most cases, you must wait five years after your sentence is served,” the New Jersey Courts advises. “All fines and fees must be paid. Sometimes, you can file for expungement after four years. You can expunge no more than one indictable conviction and up to three disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses.”

Legal Services of New Jersey notes that some criminal convictions can’t be expunged in New Jersey. The list includes murder, sexual offenses, robbery, arson, terrorism and other serious crimes.

EVENT DETAILS

The April 28 expungement clinic in Newark will be led by Blaze Responsibly, which provides free legal services for people seeking record expungement, and hosted by the Ironbound Community Corporation, a local nonprofit. It is being sponsored by Green Thumb Industries’ RISE Dispensaries of NJ.

Here are some things to know if you plan to go, organizers said:

• The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Office of Diversity & Inclusion will have resources and materials onsite that provide education for attendees on cannabis equity programs and guidance on applying for a cannabis business license.
• The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will have resources and materials onsite to support ID renewal for individuals who have lost or expired IDs.
• UFCW 360 will provide job opportunities and knowledge regarding roles in the cannabis industry and other union jobs in New Jersey.
• HeadCount will be onsite to register and verify voters for upcoming local New Jersey elections.
• SIRV Mobile Barbershop will be onsite to provide free haircuts to the community.

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