FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2022
Contact
Amanda Powers
2nd Street
(518) 928-9888
[email protected]
2nd Street to Hold Clinic on Sealing Criminal Records
PITTSFIELD, MA — 2nd Street, together with Community Legal Aid and the Committee for Public Counsel Services, will hold a free clinic on how to seal or expunge a criminal record on Friday, February 10 from 1:30-3 pm. The clinic will be held at the 2nd Street offices, located at 264 Second Street, Pittsfield. Private consultations will be available.
The clinic is particularly designed for those who have either never been found guilty of a charge or who have fulfilled the requirements of a guilty plea or verdict. Such persons often have difficulty finding or keeping housing or employment due to their Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), which landlords and employers commonly use for background checks. Legal experts will be on hand to help decode CORI and determine if eligible charges may be sealed or expunged.
Community Legal Aid (www.communitylegal.org) provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. The Committee for Public Counsel Services (www.publiccounsel.net) provides legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney. This includes representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases.
About 2nd Street
Second Street Second Chances, Inc., better known as 2nd Street, supports formerly incarcerated persons in Berkshire County and connects them with the tools, programs and support they need to successfully reenter their community. 2nd Street is committed to treating formerly incarcerated individuals with respect and encouragement; providing them with job readiness skills and access to employment opportunities; preparing them to become productive and contributing citizens; and educating and advocating for communities to embrace them as such. Services and referrals include medical and mental health resources, substance use disorder services, financial resources and literacy, transportation, family reunification, housing, job training and employment, and legal services. Visit 2nd Street at www.2nd-street.org.