Shore Legal Access highlights expungement clinics for 2024
MARYLAND -Shore Legal Access is holding a pair of legal expungement clinics, hoping to help those in the community with eligible records wipe their slate clean.
The first clinic is set for January 26th from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Somerset County Public Library in Princess Anne, with a second set for Tuesday, February 27th from 1 pm to 4 pm in Tri-County Way.
Clinic spots for expungement are by appointment only with those interested encouraged to call 410-690-8128.
Those with prior convictions, including those related to marijuana can get help with seeing whether they may be eligible to get the offense wiped from their record. Shore Legal Access says they also raise awareness of what can jeopardize an expungement namely a violation of parole.
Shore Legal Aid says expungement can be a key tool in renting, buying, getting a job, or applying for a loan.
“It is important for those qualified for housing, some people, even with HUD housing, won’t let you out, and with that and better jobs for individuals, some people will get a job and they didn’t do the proper background check, their job didn’t, and then later on they’ll all of a sudden see something, then they get fired, even if they’re doing a good job at their current job,” said Housing Case Manager Elliet Earhart.
Earhart adds that under new Maryland law, failure to pay rent (FTPR) can also be expunged from rental records in instances where it is shown to have prevented housing.
According to Earhart, the tenant would file the correct paperwork with the District Court to get a Shield on their FTPR case.
Each FTPR has to have its own filing, the landlord who filed the FTPR also gets informed of the request for Shielding and has the chance to appear in court to object to the shield or not.
If the (ex) tenant still owes that landlord money from when they were living there, the judge will more than likely not give the shield. If you have no debt owed to that specific landlord, they will usually not object according to Earhart.
The cases that were dismissed will still show up as well, and those can also be shielded and usually go right through.
Clinic spots for expungement are by appointment only with those interested encouraged to call 410-690-8128.
