On Saturday, October 22, 2022, starting at 10:00 AM, Ceiba, The Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania, the Defenders Association, and La Guagua 47, are organizing a criminal record clearing clinic titled: La Fiesta de la Oportunidad.
The legal clinic and cultural fiesta will take place at Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 N 5th St Philadelphia PA 19133.
«This criminal record clearing clinic is like no other in our community. Criminal record clearing is important to the individual and to the community. We will celebrate that ‘fresh start’ collectively. That is why we are calling our legal clinic a fiesta, La Fiesta de la Oportunidad. Attorneys will help people look at their public records and if a person has anything that needs to be addressed, then we connect them with Public Defenders, on-site, to start the process and we applaud that accomplishment» says Will Gonzalez, the Executive Director of Ceiba.
Criminal record clearing is an important workforce development mechanism. It helps eligible people improve their prospects for higher-paying jobs. La Fiesta de la Oportunidad will focus on two forms of criminal record clearing: record sealing and expungement.
Record Sealing
Pennsylvania law allows certain criminal records to be sealed from public view. This record sealing may be possible for all non-convictions, non-violent M2, M3, M convictions, and certain other misdemeanor convictions if the person has a ‘minimal’ criminal history
Expungement
Under Pennsylvania law, any charges that did not result in conviction are eligible to be expunged. Non-conviction charges include all dismissed, withdrawn, nolle prossed, and not guilty charges. If you completed a special program such as ARD, the Small Amount of Marijuana Program, or Section 17 those also may be eligible for expungement. Summary-level convictions are eligible for expungement if you have been free of arrest or prosecution for five years following the summary conviction.
“La Fiesta de la Oportunidad uses arts for social change. The community comes together around an issue via art. We talk about it. We learn more about it. We act. In this case, we rejoice in the personal and collective transformation with music, art, and food. No better way to commemorate new beginnings» says Alba Martinez, Director of La Guagua 47.
The event is sponsored by The Promise, Philadelphia’s Poverty Action Fund, powered by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. The Promise is a city-wide coalition dedicated to reducing Philadelphia’s poverty rate and supporting an equitable economic recovery from the pandemic. Combining City funding and private donations, The Promise invests in hands-on services by community-based organizations that work collaboratively to help low-income Philadelphians gain access to benefits and opportunities for upward mobility.
To pre-register for the criminal record clearing clinic, please go to: bit.ly/RecordClearingFiesta
For more information about La Fiesta de la Oportunidad, contact Ceiba: at 215-634-7245 & at info@ceibaphiladelphia.org
