CQE clinic planned for ex-offenders

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Certificate of Qualification of Employment clinic for ex-offenders and volunteers is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St.

This effort is in collaboration with the church, Home for Good Re-Entry Resource Referral Center of ACTION (Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods), United Returning Citizens and Community Initiative to Reduce Violence.

Law students and trained volunteers will answer questions.

Those interested in being trained to process applications are asked to be at the clinic site at 8 a.m. with laptops; training begins at 8:30. Send email to forlola10@gmail.com if you will participate in training.

Ray Hartsough, juris doctorate candidate at the University of Akron Law School, will be the instructor.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will provide pertinent information.

This CQE certificate has the ability to remove some of the barriers to employment that many ex-offenders may have faced as a result of negative decision-making.

If you have a misdemeanor record, you can apply for a CQE six months after your sentence (including supervision) is completed.

If you have a felony record, you can apply for a CQE one year after your sentence (including supervision) is completed. All convictions must have been only in Ohio.

No appointment is necessary to attend the clinic, and there is no cost at the time of applying for the petition.

In order to expedite the process, those attending must bring this information: a copy of your employment history (including addresses and phone numbers), three references from family members (including addresses and phone numbers), and three references from nonfamily members (including addresses and phone numbers).

Registration is requested but not required. For information, call CIRV at 330-742-8779, Home for Good Re-Entry Resource Referral Center at 330-743-3700, or the church at 330-746-3067.