Dekalb County hosts first Records Expungement Day

DEKALB COUNTY, GA - Saturday DeKalb County hosted its first Records Expungement Day. The event aimed to clear criminal records for people who have been arrested, but never convicted.

"Getting crime off your record is a life changing event," said DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James.

Organizers say one mistake in a person's past can have long lasting repercussions.

"Having a record becomes a problem when applying for jobs, housing, school, benefits..." said Georgia Justice Project Executive Director Douglas Ammar.

Saturday's event condensed and consolidated the typically length process.

"Usually when somebody gets an expungement they have to go to police dept., down to clerk, etc., then it may take six months or longer...But today they can do it all and when they leave its gone," James said.

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James told FOX 5 he's hoping other counties will follow suit.

"Just because you might have made a mistake in your past it shouldn't follow you around forever," said Chief Public Defender Claudia Saari.

"It's preventing them from moving on with their life. We have to get to a place in this country where we are giving people a second chance," James said.