Free to the Public Thursday, August 25, 2011
CHICAGO - The Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the Center on Halsted will host an Adult Expungement and Sealing Seminar at the center, located at 3556 N. Halsted, Chicago, on Thursday, August 25, 2011; registration begins at 5:00 p.m.
Attorneys will be on site to assist participants who are eligible for expungement or sealing of past criminal records in Cook County.
"We are attempting to remove as many impediments as possible for people who are attempting to better themselves and their quality of life," said Clerk Brown.
"We all deserve the opportunity to be more productive members of the community," said Modesto "Tico" Valle, CEO of the Center on Halsted. "We're glad to work with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court to empower individuals to do that."
Clerk Brown has held full-service, community-based Expungement Summits that have been extremely successful for the past several years. When individuals have their criminal records expunged or sealed they gain second chances to obtain jobs, housing, higher education and other advantages.
Reservations are necessary to attend the Expungement seminar at the Center on Halsted. RSVP by Friday, August 19, 2011 to (773) 472-6469 or visit: legal@centeronhalsted.org . Seating is limited.
Adults with criminal records should bring their rap sheet (criminal record) to the seminar. If there is an arrest on the rap sheet but no criminal case disposition, then a criminal case disposition must also be obtained. Records should be ordered in advance and are available at the following locations:
Chicago Arrests: Request rap sheets from the Chicago Police Department, Access and Review Department, 4770 South Kedzie, Chicago. Records should be ordered no later than August 19 as requests take five business days to process. Fee is $16.00. Call (312) 745-6040 for more information. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Suburban Cook County Arrests: Criminal case information can be obtained from the local police agency where the arrest occurred. People can request their Right to Access and Review.
Criminal Case Dispositions: Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County at (312) 603-4641 or (773) 674-3140. Fee is $9.00 per copy.
This community-based Expungement and Records Sealing Seminar is sponsored by: Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Center on Halsted, along with Honorable Anita Alvarez, State's Attorney of Cook County; Honorable Abishi C. Cunningham Jr., Cook County Public Defender; Cabrini Green Legal Aid; Illinois Prisoner Review Board; and Safer Foundation.
The Center on Halsted is the largest and most comprehensive LGBT community center in the Midwest. It serves diverse social, recreational, cultural, educational, emotional and social needs of youth and adults in a safe, inviting and nurturing environment.
