Free legal clinic helps those with felony records | News

A free clinic that offers assistance to individuals with felony matters in Pima County Superior Court will take place Thursday, Nov. 6. Hours for the Pathway to Progress Legal Clinic will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prescreening for eligibility is strongly recommended and should be done as soon as possible. Walk-ins are not guaranteed assistance or eligibility.

At the clinic, eligible clients may receive assistance with:

• Sealing a felony criminal record

• Restoring civil rights or setting aside a felony conviction

• Restoring gun rights

• Waiving or reducing outstanding fines and fees

• Designating an undesignated Class 6 conviction as a misdemeanor

• Expunging marijuana-related felony convictions

• Resolving and quashing warrants for having absconded (failure to report or participate) from Pima County Probation on a felony matter

Individuals who complete the online pre-screening form will receive a response regarding eligibility for the Nov. 6 clinic or be assessed for and referred to other legal services and community resources if available.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance to move forward, and no one should have to face the legal system by themselves,” Dean Brault, the director of Public Defense Services, said. “Through this clinic, we’re helping remove barriers so people can exercise their legal rights and rebuild their lives.”

The clinic will start at the Public Defense Services offices at 33 N. Stone Avenue, 10th floor. Clients may then be referred to hearings at Superior Court, 110 W. Congress Street. 

The first Pathway to Progress Legal Clinic in April assisted 31 individuals, including 12 who were granted motions to restore civil rights.

The clinic is a collaboration among Pima County Public Defense Services, Superior Court, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Pima County Adult Probation.

For information or to find the form to check for eligibility visit pima.gov/pathwaytoprogress.