New Yorkers Can Resolve Outstanding Summons Warrants for Quality of Life Offenses;
Learn About Sealing Old Convictions and Expunging Marijuana Possession Convictions
District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced today that her office will host “Another
Chance,” a summons warrant forgiveness program in the Bronx on October 26, 2019, inviting
residents from all five boroughs and giving them the opportunity to clear their records and
continue with their lives, and experience first-hand criminal justice reform.
The “Another Chance” event will be held in partnership with the Office of Court
Administration and The Legal Aid Society on Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Thessalonia Worship Center, located at 941 Rev. James A. Polite Avenue in the Longwood
section of the Bronx.
District Attorney Clark said, “I am thrilled to host the ‘Another Chance’ event in the Bronx
again, which brings the court to the community. This time, we will have defense attorneys to help
participants learn how to seal old convictions, as well as get information on expunging marijuana
possession convictions faster, bringing criminal justice reform to life for New Yorkers. If you
committed low-level offenses, like drinking alcohol in public, littering or riding a bike on the
sidewalk and did not resolve that summons, you could face arrest for that past mistake, and it
could affect employment and housing. I strongly urge residents with summons warrants to attend
the event so they can remove the burden.”
Bronx County Criminal Court Supervising Judge George Grasso said, “I commend Bronx
County District Attorney Darcel Clark for her continuing efforts to bring justice to the community
that we so proudly serve. This is exactly the type of collaboration that is encouraged throughout
the Criminal Justice System by our Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The New York City Criminal
Court is proud to stand with our partners to effect justice and fairness in Bronx County.
A mobile courtroom will be created in the Thessalonia Worship Center with Honorable
Bahaati Pitt, Criminal Court Judge, presiding, as well as attorneys and staff from the Bronx
District Attorney’s Office and The Legal Aid Society. The event will also include a resource fair,
where residents can obtain information on health care and social services from a vast array of
organizations.
District Attorney Clark said over 300 people attended the last Another Chance event, held
in 2017, and approximately 226 warrants were cleared at that event.
