The role of discharge hospitals

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) – Nearly 90,000 people are admitted to an Alabama prison each year, according to PrisonPolicy.org. This can result in many people across the state having criminal records.

The organization Volunteer Lawyers of Birmingham says many of the charges are often misdemeanors stemming from a simple mistake made in a person’s past. That’s why they hold their exungement clinics, to give people a second chance.

Their final meeting was Friday in the Fellowship Hall of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

We spoke with a man named Rob who began the process of getting his felony arrest overturned on Friday.

“Even though everyone knows me and knows my character, they know this will be a big help to me,” Rob said.

He says he’s looking forward to what this means for his family and to having his mugshot removed from the internet while he looks for work.

“We will all breathe a sigh of relief when this is completely clarified from my point of view,” he added.

One goal of Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham is to help people with criminal records find work and better paying jobs.

Birmingham District 6 City Councilor Crystal Smitherman partnered the event on Friday. She noted that many factors play a role in crime and that people continue to commit crimes.

“Being able to have a job … and have a low income helps them get out of poverty, it helps them get a car. That’s a good positive impact and it takes clinics like this to help someone get their money.” Rights restored. Smitherman said.

She said she also wanted to attend this event in the upcoming election in the hope that they would be able to vote.

For Smitherman, everything is part of a larger whole.

“I think it’s good to have a strong workforce, a strong economy and a strong city.”

Most criminal charges that have not resulted in a conviction can be expunged.

A misdemeanor or municipal charge may have a waiting period of 90 days to a year before punishment is imposed.

There can be a waiting period of up to 5 years for criminal charges.

Some misdemeanor convictions can also be expunged after a three-year waiting period, and not violent or sexual offenses.

Further information and registration on the waiting list for deletion can be found here.