The Union County Board of County Commissioners are preparing for the second Expungement Clinic in Union County on Wednesday, December 20th at the Warinanco Sports Center. This clinic is an extension of Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados’s “Second Chance” initiative, through his Chairman’s theme of “Building a Stronger Union County.”
“The weight of nonviolent offenses can cast a long shadow on an individual’s path to success,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Expungement is more than just a legal solution. It’s a way for our county residents to rewrite their story, reclaim their potential, and build a future free from the weight of past mistakes. By wiping the slate clean, we pave the way for second chances, ensuring that the shadows of the past are no longer in their way.”
Participants will be able to meet with attorneys to obtain a free expungement. Blaze Responsibly,aconsulting firm, will be offering their services to individuals trying to navigate the sometimes-tricky expungement process. Blaze Responsibly was founded by Chirali Patel, an attorney, professor, and advocate who launched the initiative through which she’s helped victims affected by the War on Drugs by providing free education and legal support.
Blaze Responsibly has held numerous expungement clinics throughout the State of New Jersey this past year in partnership with cannabis companies that have sponsored over 700 individuals in obtaining free expungements and legal resources. The organization is thrilled to be partnering with the County of Union for a holiday event seeking to spread the joy of community.
Individuals can expect to walk away with a filed expungement for free from qualified attorneys. Even if someone is ineligible for expungement, at the very least, they will walk away from the clinic more informed about their situation than before.
Chirali was named in the 2022 National Law Journal Cannabis Law Trailblazers and the “22 to Watch in ‘22″ list by NJ Cannabis Insider as an influential voice in the cannabis industry. In 2019, she created Blaze Responsibly, a trademarked brand aiming to educate and empower cannabis leaders. Through this company, she regularly hosts free expungement clinics statewide. Last year, she launched her own law practice, Blaze Law Firm.
The free clinic will run from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on December 20th at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park, located at 1 Park Drive in Roselle. This event is for Union County residents only, and participants will need to provide proof of residency in order to attend. Pre-registration is required on https://ucnj.org/expungement.
For more information about the Expungement Clinic, please email at Carolina Marin at ajcbusinessteam@ucnj.org.