MIAMI – The Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board (IAB), in conjunction with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, recently hosted its annual Seal and Expungement "Redemption" workshop, drawing the active participation of more than 60 individuals. The event marked its second successful year, reaffirming its value to the community.

Navigating the legal processes for sealing or expunging a criminal record in Florida can pose challenges due to stringent qualifications. Held on August 19 at the North Dade Regional Library, the workshop provided attendees with comprehensive insights into these procedures. Sealing a criminal record renders an individual's history inaccessible to the public, while expunging entails the physical destruction or obliteration of specific criminal history records, as directed by the court.

Further enhancing the event's significance, the Interfaith Advisory Board conducted a raffle for ten $75 money orders, payable to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), thereby covering the State fee associated with the process. Other participants were staff from the Office of Juan Fernandez-Barquin Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller, representatives from the Office of the State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Miami-Dade Police Department employees, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition advisors, Transition Employment Services advocates, and staff from the Miami-Dade County Department of Elections.

For more information, please contact Interfaith Program Director Teo Noboa via email or at 305-375-5784. For high resolution pictures of the event, email Office of Community Advocacy Communications and Media Director Griselle Marino or contact her at 305-375-1585.