BRATTLEBORO-Attorney General Charity Clark will host a free criminal record clearing clinic on Thursday, Jan. 15, with appointments available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Attorneys from the Attorney General’s Office will offer free assistance with petitions for Vermont-specific “qualifying” criminal convictions and dismissed charges. Vermonters must schedule appointments in advance by calling the Attorney General’s Office at 802-828-3171 or emailing AGO.Info@vermont.gov by Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Eligible participants will be given an in-person appointment at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro on the day of the clinic.
Sealing a record allows an individual to wipe from their criminal record specific convictions and dismissed charges after a certain period of time has passed, including records relating to contact with the criminal justice system, like arrest or citation, arraignment, plea or conviction, and sentencing.
Under Vermont’s updated law, most misdemeanors, various nonviolent felony offenses, and all dismissed charges can be sealed. The free clinic will focus on sealing criminal charges and convictions from Windham County, and will be open to the public by appointment only.
“For many years, my office has assisted Vermonters with clearing old criminal records that are holding them back from securing stable housing, getting better jobs, and participating fully in their communities,” Clark said in a news release. “These clinics are a way for us to help Vermonters who have paid their debt to society and stayed out of trouble get a fresh start and strengthen the community as a whole. I want to thank Windham County State’s Attorney Steve Brown, Interaction (formerly Youth Services), and the Brooks Memorial Library for their assistance in hosting this clinic.”
More information on sealing and expungements is available at Vermont Legal Aid’s website at vtlawhelp.org/expungement.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.