Goodyear, Legal Aid team up for expungement workshop tonight

An estimated 994,000 Ohioans have a criminal record of some kind, and that situation stagnates a community’s growth, according to Steven McGarrity, executive director of Community Legal Aid of central northeast Ohio.

It’s a widespread problem that impacts not only individuals and families, but also businesses and community economic growth, McGarrity says.

“In order to attract businesses to our community, we have to have a workforce,” he stated in a press release.

“When people have a criminal background, even if all their transgressions are in the past, and even if they are capable of performing the jobs, their hands are often tied with what kind of work they can do.”

As a result, Legal Aid and Goodyear are offering a free online clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. today via Zoom to help people seal their criminal record. Goodyear is helping to sponsor the clinic to give back to the community, said David Phillips, Goodyear’s general counsel.

Anyone interested in learning more or registering can call Community Legal Aid at 800-998-9454 or visit www.communitylegalaid.org/events.

Community Legal Aid is a 501(c)3 nonprofit law firm serving the legal needs of low-income individuals in central northeast Ohio.