Crawford County Clean Slate will hold a free clinic Feb. 7 to help individuals who are interested in exploring their options for clearing old criminal records.
The clinic will be upstairs at the Meadville Public Library, 848 N. Main St., from 10 to 11 a.m. during the regular Friday library community coffee hour.
Crawford County Clean Slate is working with individuals with prior criminal convictions that are more than five years old to check eligibility for record sealing under the Pennsylvania Clean Slate Law.
The local group is an all-volunteer effort based at Women’s Services, Inc. as part of their community outreach. Volunteers are also trained as coaches to assist individuals who wish to seek a governor’s pardon.
This is a time to meet with a trained volunteers who will be able to assist with determining eligibility, explaining the process and requirements, and developing a plan for proceeding with either record sealing or a pardon. Generally, at least five years need to have passed to be eligible for consideration of sealing or pardons.
Clean Slate can’t work with individuals who have been involved in crimes involving children or crimes that involve sexual assault, officials said.
Clean Slate was formed to address barriers that individuals with past criminal records face when they seek employment or job improvement, subsidized housing and more.
Clean Slate member Marcia Metcalfe stated, “We work on the basic belief that someone who made a past mistake for which they have paid the price, deserves a second chance to be an active and productive member of their community and family.”