Florida Justice Center Offers Free Criminal Record Sealing
Florida legal aid organization provides free lawyers and launches fundraiser with goal of clearing 400 arrest records throughout the state.
Oakland Park, FL, March 04, 2021 --(PR.com)-- Imagine being denied a job or housing because of your arrest record even though you were found innocent. It isn’t that difficult to imagine since every year many of the 700,000 people arrested in Florida face that exact situation.
The Florida Justice Center today announced that it will provide free attorneys to anyone in Florida who qualifies to have their arrest record sealed or expunged. At the same time, FLJC is seeking $57,200 in donations to cover the required fees for 400 innocent people.
Last May, 66 protestors were arrested in Jacksonville, Florida while demanding justice for George Floyd. By August, 64 of those cases were dropped by prosecutors. Those 64 people were never convicted of a crime yet any standard background check will identify them as a criminal. Due to state law, no arrest may be removed from a criminal history unless the individual files for their record to be sealed or expunged and pays $143 in processing fees.
“The sealing and expungement process is long and complicated and can be daunting without an attorney to help complete and file the paperwork. The fees may be prohibitive to lower income individuals who are suffering because of underemployment from having an arrest record,” explained FLJC Director of Legal Services Alex Saiz, Esq.
The initiative is led by Alex Saiz, Esq., Florida International University Director of Policy and Programs and FLJC Board Member Melba Pearson, Esq, and Tampa Defense Attorney and FLJC Chairperson Jessenia Rosales, Esq.
“With over 20 law students and undergraduate interns from Florida International University, Florida A&M University, Barry University, and Miami-Dade College, as well as three supervising attorneys and three pro bono attorneys participating, we are ready to give people a fresh start,” said FLJC Executive Director Jonathan Bleiweiss.
Anyone interested in sealing their record should complete the brief form at www.FLJC.org/seal, call 954-758-7555, or email seal@FLJC.org. Everyone will be screened for eligibility for sealing and expungement, and those who qualify will be helped free of charge.
Donations are accepted at www.FLJC.org/fresh or on the homepage at www.FLJC.org.
About the Florida Justice Center:
FLJC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is the first and only legal aid organization authorized by the Florida Supreme Court to provide criminal legal assistance. FLJC is dedicated to reducing incarceration rates in Florida using a holistic approach that combines legal, social, and mental health services. As a ground-breaking and rapidly growing organization, the FLJC team hopes that its success grows with each additional supporter.
3469 N Dixie Hwy
Oakland Park, FL 33334
(954) 758-7555
media@fljc.org
Learn more at www.fljc.org
Facebook.com/floridajusticecenter
Linkedin.com/company/floridajc
Twitter.com/fljusticecenter
Instagram.com/fljusticecenter
The Florida Justice Center today announced that it will provide free attorneys to anyone in Florida who qualifies to have their arrest record sealed or expunged. At the same time, FLJC is seeking $57,200 in donations to cover the required fees for 400 innocent people.
Last May, 66 protestors were arrested in Jacksonville, Florida while demanding justice for George Floyd. By August, 64 of those cases were dropped by prosecutors. Those 64 people were never convicted of a crime yet any standard background check will identify them as a criminal. Due to state law, no arrest may be removed from a criminal history unless the individual files for their record to be sealed or expunged and pays $143 in processing fees.
“The sealing and expungement process is long and complicated and can be daunting without an attorney to help complete and file the paperwork. The fees may be prohibitive to lower income individuals who are suffering because of underemployment from having an arrest record,” explained FLJC Director of Legal Services Alex Saiz, Esq.
The initiative is led by Alex Saiz, Esq., Florida International University Director of Policy and Programs and FLJC Board Member Melba Pearson, Esq, and Tampa Defense Attorney and FLJC Chairperson Jessenia Rosales, Esq.
“With over 20 law students and undergraduate interns from Florida International University, Florida A&M University, Barry University, and Miami-Dade College, as well as three supervising attorneys and three pro bono attorneys participating, we are ready to give people a fresh start,” said FLJC Executive Director Jonathan Bleiweiss.
Anyone interested in sealing their record should complete the brief form at www.FLJC.org/seal, call 954-758-7555, or email seal@FLJC.org. Everyone will be screened for eligibility for sealing and expungement, and those who qualify will be helped free of charge.
Donations are accepted at www.FLJC.org/fresh or on the homepage at www.FLJC.org.
About the Florida Justice Center:
FLJC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is the first and only legal aid organization authorized by the Florida Supreme Court to provide criminal legal assistance. FLJC is dedicated to reducing incarceration rates in Florida using a holistic approach that combines legal, social, and mental health services. As a ground-breaking and rapidly growing organization, the FLJC team hopes that its success grows with each additional supporter.
3469 N Dixie Hwy
Oakland Park, FL 33334
(954) 758-7555
media@fljc.org
Learn more at www.fljc.org
Facebook.com/floridajusticecenter
Linkedin.com/company/floridajc
Twitter.com/fljusticecenter
Instagram.com/fljusticecenter
Contact
Florida Justice Center
Jonathan Bleiweiss
(954) 758-7555
https://www.fljc.org
Jonathan Bleiweiss
(954) 758-7555
https://www.fljc.org
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