“Everyone makes mistakes in life, but that doesn’t mean they have to pay for them for the rest of their life.”
– Nitya Prakash
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and Three Rivers Legal Services with the assistance of the D.W. Perkins Bar Association, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Duval County Clerk of Court, the 4th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, attorney from the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and law students from Jacksonville University and the University of Florida, participated in a Seal and Expungement Fair on June 7.
Preregistration was a requirement for this event and while the two dozen volunteers geared up to assist the 25 applicants that had preregistered (and were pre-determined that they qualified for sealing or expunging) the community surprised the volunteers by a major turnout which included about 50 walk-ins.
Despite the surprise, the volunteers rose to the occasion and 74 applicants met one-on-one with an attorney and were screened to determine their eligibility.
If eligible, the applicant had their seal/expunge paperwork completed, met with a member of the clerk’s office, an officer from JSO to be fingerprinted and a State’s Attorney, if applicable.
This coming-together of the community leaders allowed for a one-stop shop for those who were eligible to leave the fair having completed their application with all documentation ready to be sent for processing for their seal/expunge request.
What could have taken someone months to complete on their own was done in a matter of minutes.
This was a rare opportunity for those members of our community who have been previously charged with a crime in Duval County which did not result in a conviction or obtained a withhold to meet with a representative from the community partners to obtain a completed application.
Some applicants have been denied jobs, housing or denied loans to purchase a home because of one small blemish on their record.
The Seal & Expungement Fair was set up to help those individuals who want a fresh start and a second chance.
For those who did qualify, their applications will be sent in the next few days to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for consideration.
Our hope is that they are granted this fresh start they so desperately need and desire.
And while devastating, those who were determined ineligible had the opportunity to meet with an attorney and know for themselves if they can take this path.
Personally, this was one of my first major events as the new deputy director of pro bono for JALA and I could not have been more proud of the work that is being done to support our community.
A special thank you goes to Chief Judge Lance Day and Trial Court Administrator Eve Janocko along with Chief Technology Officer Mike Smith, Major J.L. Carney III and Duval County Clerk of Courts Jody Phillips for opening the Duval County Courthouse and providing staff and security on a Saturday morning.
Without the volunteers this event could not have happened, so we give our biggest thanks to those who volunteered which included attorneys Melina Buncome, Alice Morris, Mary Hickson, Courtenay Miller, Cheryl Gildner, Lisa Varon, Carrie McClain, Jeanine Sasser, Belkis Plata, Napthalie Azor, Ronnie Graham, Kim Woods, Kendra Willis, Jakela Rivers, Destardes Moore, L. Lee Lockett, Hector Bustos, as well as Taylor Deckard, Asia Pleasants, Karl Boyd, Stefan Jurj, Addison Powell, Kuyle Pereira, Courtney Crain, Morgan Miner, Kale Newsome, Camila Jordan, Donna Varner, Patricia Balkcom and M. Mattis.
For those interested in getting involved with JALA’s Pro Bono Unit, visit jaxlegalaid.org/pro-bono where you can find volunteer opportunities including cases awaiting placement. Alternatively, send an email to [email protected] if you have additional questions or interests.