Fort Bend County residents seeking a fresh start may have an opportunity to learn whether their criminal records qualify for expunction or nondisclosure through a free legal information clinic scheduled for Sunday, October 26, in Missouri City. Although the advance registration deadline has passed, walk-ins will be accepted.

Fort Bend County Libraries is partnering with the Earl Carl Institute, Inc. at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law to offer the Record Clearing Clinic from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Missouri City Branch Library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway. The clinic will take place in The Pointe, the library’s third-floor meeting room. Walk-in participants must arrive by 7:50 p.m.

The clinic is designed to help individuals understand whether they may qualify to have certain criminal records cleared through expunction or restricted from public access through an order of nondisclosure. Learning about these options can be an important step for people seeking better employment opportunities, housing and educational prospects, or other opportunities that may be affected by their criminal records.

The program will include representatives from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, County Clerk’s Office, District Clerk’s Office and Willie Melton Law Library, providing participants with information about the record-clearing process and available resources.

After checking in, applicants will undergo a screening process. Depending on the results, they may proceed to an intake process with the Earl Carl Institute, receive documents to represent themselves in the process, or receive an explanation of why they are not eligible.

The clinic will provide eligibility screenings and information about expunction and nondisclosure procedures. Legal documents will not be drafted or filed onsite.

The Earl Carl Institute is a legal services provider and research, writing and advocacy organization based at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Its mission includes addressing systemic social issues and empowering underserved communities through legal representation, education, research and advocacy.

By connecting residents with information about their legal options, the clinic can help individuals better understand the steps available to address eligible criminal records and move forward with greater knowledge of their rights.

For additional information, visit Fort Bend County Libraries’ Record Clearing Clinic event page.