DEKALB COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS HOST RECORD RESTRICTION CLINIC IN HONOR OF SECOND CHANCE MONTH

147 Arrests Restricted

Decatur, Ga.- On Saturday, April 13, 2024, DeKalb County criminal justice partners restricted 147 criminal arrest records as part of a Record Restriction Clinic hosted by DeKalb County law enforcement, judicial stakeholders and community partners.

The Record Restriction Clinic, held in recognition of Second Chance Month, took place at Goodwill of North Georgia on Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. The Clinic occurred in conjunction with the Reentry Collaborative Summit hosted by the DeKalb Department of Community Supervision Office, offering individuals one location for a variety of reentry and legal services.

Interested individuals with an arrest by the DeKalb County Police Department or the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, or misdemeanor and felony convictions in the county were eligible to apply for the Record Restriction Clinic during the month of March. More than 240 applications were accepted, with up to two arrests allowed per application. Applications were processed by the DeKalb County Police Department, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the Solicitor-General's Office, and the Clerk of Superior Court in advance of the event.

Applicants received news of their application status at the Record Restriction Clinic and by mail. Individuals who were not able to have their records restricted during the clinic were given the opportunity to schedule a consultation with an attorney from the Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender or the Georgia Justice Project to discuss their legal options.

In addition to record restriction and the opportunity to meet with an attorney, services at the event included a job and resources fair, food distribution, medical screenings, SNAP applications and voter registration.

Record restriction, formerly known as expungement, shields old arrest and conviction information from public view and can improve opportunities for housing, jobs, and financial credit. Second Chance Month is designated each year to help individuals and communities across Georgia recognize the importance of reentry services and their role in supporting safe and successful criminal justice outcomes.

The Record Restriction Clinic was hosted in partnership with Goodwill of North Georgia, The Georgia Department of Community Supervision and The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.

DeKalb County Partners:
Office of the DeKalb County CEO, Office of the DeKalb County Solicitor-General, Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney, Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender, DeKalb County State Court, DeKalb County Superior Court, DeKalb County State Court Clerk's Office, Clerk of Superior Court - DeKalb County, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, DeKalb County Police Department, WorkSource DeKalb, DeKalb County Commissioner Robert Patrick - District 1

Additional Community Partners:
Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Georgia Justice Project, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Department of Labor