Pre-registration starts TODAY at noon for Fresh Start criminal record sealing & Know Your Rights Housing Workshop – News from Harris County Courts

Online pre-registration for criminal record sealing and housing rights workshop begins at noon on Monday, Jan. 22. Jan. 19, 2024 – The Fresh Start misdemeanor criminal record sealing program is expanding to include eligible felony cases thanks to a new partnership with the criminal division of the Harris County State District Courts. Texas state law allows certain felony charges that did not result in a conviction to be sealed from public view upon successful completion of mandated requirements and waiting periods. The new partnership will formally launch at Fresh Start on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Hester House in Fifth Ward. Online pre-registration is required for record sealing and launches at noon on Jan. 22: ccl.hctx.net/comcourt.htm. “We’re always looking for opportunities to better serve our community beyond the walls of the courtroom,” said Judge Te’iva Bell, who serves as the administrative judge for the criminal division of the Harris County State District Courts. “We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with our misdemeanor court colleagues and be part of Fresh Start.” Launched in 2022, Fresh Start helps eligible people course correct after encounters with the criminal justice system by sealing their eligible criminal records and connecting...