Melissa O. Picciola, Director of Pro Bono and Community Partnerships at Legal Aid Chicago spoke with WBEZ today about the complexities of cannabis expungement.
With funding from New Leaf Illinois, Legal Aid Chicago attorneys are able to remove eligible cannabis offenses from clients’ backgrounds, removing barriers to employment, education, and housing. We provide full representation for these clients: from preparing motions to representation in court. Clients who receive services from this grant also receive an assessment for other offenses on their background and other civil legal needs.
New Leaf Illinois, funded by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, is a statewide, state-funded initiative made up of non-profit organizations throughout Illinois who provide free legal representation or legal information to people who want their cannabis convictions off their record.
Listen to the full interview here.