Fort Wayne nonprofit offers free expungement presentation

A pilot partnership between Indiana Legal Services and a Tippecanoe County court is providing in-court assistance to pro se litigants in divorce cases. Attorneys sit down with litigants behind closed doors, gather the necessary child-support information, fill out the paperwork and send parents back into the courtroom. (Shutterstock.com photo)

The Volunteer Center of Fort Wayne will host a free presentation explaining Indiana’s expungement law on Feb. 11 at Ivy Tech Community College.

“A criminal record is one of the largest obstacles to better housing, employment, and education,” said Ani Etter, executive director of the nonprofit organization. “The Second Chance Initiative provides a door to better opportunities for the future.”

From 6 to 7 p.m., residents will hear from local attorney Heidi Fowler as she explains the law, which allows a one-time opportunity for some low-level convictions to be expunged. The Volunteer Center and the Volunteer Lawyer Program offer individuals who meet the law’s requirements the opportunity to request to have their conviction records expunged through the Second Chance Initiative.

During the event, the center will also provide local resources for legal assistance.

Ivy Tech is located at 3701 Dean Drive in Fort Wayne. The event will be held in Room TC1225 in the Tech Center Lecture Hall. For more information, visit the Volunteer Center’s website.