Three Rivers Legal Services Inc. “Project R: Restoring Rights, Repairing Records and Rebuilding Hope” 2014 educational workshops confirmed the need for sealing and expungement and restoration of civil rights services in the community.
The Project R workshops were held quarterly at the Wells Fargo Historic Springfield Community Learning Center on Thursdays from 6:15-7:15 p.m. Three Rivers hosted four workshops last year to inform community members about regaining their civil rights and removing blemishes from their records.
The agency was assisted by the D.W. Perkins Bar Association, the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, the Florida New Majority, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, state Rep. Mia Jones and pro bono attorneys.
Project R Gratitude
Three Rivers sends a thousand “thank yous” to local nonprofits, leaders, churches and community members for their continuous support.
The organizations exhibited an unrelenting commitment to publicizing Project R workshops to recruit attendees.
With the community’s support and validation, Project R participants grew from one attendee to more than 50 at the final 2014 event. The need for the service is clear.
Project R in 2015
Now that the community is apprised of the Project R Program, Three Rivers Legal Services will be hosting pro se clinics to help people complete their applications for restoration of civil rights and/or sealing and expungement.
Three Rivers aims to ensure each applicant leaves the clinic with a completed package ready for submission.
To kick off Project R 2015, Three Rivers and the Sherwood Community Network hosted a prescreening workshop Jan. 15 at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex Legends Center.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid attorney LaVerne Adreasen gave people an overview of the requirements when applying for restoration of civil rights, in addition to sealing or expunging a criminal record.
At the conclusion, attendees signed up for an appointment to have their application completed free of charge.
With the assistance of pro bono attorneys, the sealing and expungement pro se clinics will be held in February and August.
Florida Coastal School of Law students will provide pro bono services to assist eligible applicants with restoring civil
rights.
Join the cause
Attorneys are invited to join this community initiative by contacting Three Rivers Pro Bono Coordinator Chardea Murray at [email protected] or Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Pro Bono Director Kathy Para at [email protected].
Attorneys may help by attending one or multiple events, by assisting an individual with his/her application for sealing or expunging arrest records or restoring civil rights, or simply by publicizing the availability of the service.
This year’s events will be at Three Rivers, 3225 University Boulevard S., Suite 220, on the these dates:
• Sealing and expungement pro se clinics: 5-8 p.m. on two Wednesdays, Feb. 23 and July 29.
• Civil rights restoration clinics: 5-8 p.m. on two Fridays, June 26 and Oct. 9.
Project R gives people who are disenfranchised a reason to hope and the ability to become productive and contributing members of our community.
Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities throughout northeast Florida are encouraged to contact Para at [email protected].