Low-level crimes and past indiscretions can hang around a person’s permanent record, acting as a roadblock to simple but necessary services like renewing your state ID. Once you lack a valid ID, job hunting and housing can become more difficult, creating a spiral that can be hard to pull out of. If you find yourself in a situation where the actions of your past are impacting the decisions you are making for your future, there is an event happening tomorrow in Joshua Tree that can help.
The San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office is bringing its Mobile Defense Program to the Joshua Tree Community Resource Fair this Wednesday, May 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
They are offering on-site record clearings and expungements, the clearing of bench warrants, summary probation assistance, assistance in resolving or eliminating outstanding fines and the re-enrollment in court-required classes.
The Mobile Defense Program’s mission of providing rural residents with equitable access to social services began in April of last year in Landers. It’s grown since then, holding events in other areas of the county like San Bernardino, Ontario, Fontana, Needles, Barstow and Lucerne Valley.
In addition to the record and warrant clearing services the Court is also offering self-help support for legal matters in family law or small claims. Here’s San Bernardino County Public Defender Thomas Sone talking about why providing these services in rural areas is an important part of public service:
Public Defender Thomas Sone: “We talk about access and equitable access. There isn’t a whole lot in some of these remote areas, so our thought was how can we better our service and how can we better serve our communities by going to them? The majority of our clients don’t have reliable transportation so what happens is if they get cited for something – even something minor – they might not make it to court. They might not be able to make that 2-3 hour trek and if they don’t make that drive and a warrant is issued all of the sudden you have a downward spiral of negative consequences.”
That spiral of consequences can be extremely difficult to extract yourself from, especially if it impacts your ability to get a drivers license or apply for housing. Assistant Public Defender Kellie Byward says that in many cases, the laws have changed and time is on the side of many of those who just want to clear their records and move on with their lives.
Assistant Public Defnder Kellie Byward: “There has been recognition by the legislature that these low-level crimes and things are hindering people’s ability to get good jobs, or (to do things like) volunteer to coach their kids’ soccer team. Even if somebody had something 15 years ago, what their experience was may not be how it would be addressed now. There’s a lot of automatic sealing for old cases that have been dismissed or even cases that weren’t dismissed. After a certain period it’s supposed to come off your rap sheet, and you should be able to answer questions via a potential employer differently than before as if the offense never happened.”
Organizations at Wednesday’s event include:
- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County
- Desert Oasis Healthcare
- Energy Savings Assistance Program for SCE and SCG
- IEHP
- Molina Healthcare
- Morongo Basin Health District
- Morongo Unified School District
- San Bernardino County Department of Aging & Adult Services
- San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services
- San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department
- Valley Star Morongo Basin Crisis Walk-In Center
- Valley Star Morongo Basin TAY One Stop Center
- Yucca Valley Reach Out
The Joshua Tree Community Resource Fair is hosted by San Bernardino County Special Districts in partnership with the Morongo Unified School District. Held every second Wednesday of the month, the event brings local and county resources to the Morongo Basin.
The event will take place at the Joshua Tree Community Center located at 6171 Sunburst Street.
Reservations aren’t required to attend the event, but there are some steps you can take before Wednesday that can be helpful. You can get more information and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-bernardino-county-public-defender-mobile-defense-program-joshua-tree-tickets-1333262366629
