By: Najla Alexander
Morris County officials announced that the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office joined members of the Morris County legal and law enforcement communities to participate in the inaugural Free Expungement Clinic in Morristown on May 2.
The clinic was sponsored by the Morris County Bar Foundation and made possible through a partnership between the Morris County Bar Foundation, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Public Defender’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvary Baptist Church, officials said.
According to officials, volunteer attorneys were available to aid members of the public interested in pursuing an expungement, which means a qualifying, non-violent conviction will be erased from their criminal history.
Their assistance was an entirely free service, officials say.
Officials stated volunteers assisted 70 attendees with legal advice regarding expungement, and lunch was provided by the Morris County Bar Foundation.
In addition to expungement services, the following organizations provided helpful information to the public: the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Community Connections, Hope One, and Navigating Hope, Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, Center for Family Services, Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Transition Professionals, and Morris County Board of Elections, officials said.
Authorities say these agencies were on hand to provide information about free Narcan, substance use and mental health services, social security benefits, re-entry services, and voter registration.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said, “I sincerely thank all who gave their time and expertise to this unique and valuable community service, which helps those looking to turn their lives around but who may be hampered by financial hurdles associated with the expungement process."
"I thank the members of the Morris County Bar Association, Morris County Bar Foundation, Morris County Public Defender’s Office, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and our own office’s Assistant Prosecutors for making this clinic a success and to the Calvary Baptist Church for being such a generous host.”
