Many free clinics in California have opened up to people with felonies on their record to reduce those offenses to misdemeanors under Proposition 47.
One such clinic is on Saturday in Stockton with hundreds expected to attend.
About 70 legal volunteers will assist people to file applications to change their non-violent felonies to misdemeanors which include petty theft, shoplifting, forgery, drug possession, receipt of stolen property, and writing bad checks.
Marisa Arrona with Californians for Safety and Justice says people with felonies face over 4,800 restrictions that can bar them from housing, education, or jobs ranging from barber to dog walker.
“So if my neighbor has a second chance to become a barber, to become a dog walker, to be a productive member of society that helps keep me safe, that is a healthy and safe community for all of us,” says Aronna.
Arrona also says applications will be submitted to the courts to remove the felonies from old criminal records.
The Prop. 47 clinic runs Saturday at Delta College in Stockton from 11 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.
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