Lawyers volunteering at the fair can also give people personalized information about when they may be eligible to expunge certain charges from their records if they don’t meet some of the criteria immediately.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks (D) said the idea for the fair came when she attended a community meeting, where a man said his nephew was having trouble finding work because of his record. It turned out that the charge was a minor matter and could be cleared from his record.

“I wonder how many people are laboring along, who are hopeless and discouraged and may have minor nuisance offenses that they can expunge and they just don’t know,” Alsobrooks said. “We’re trying to see how many people we can assist.”

The expungement fair could be especially helpful for those who want to learn about recent changes in state legislation that will expand the types of offenses that can be removed from records starting in October, Alsobrooks said.

The fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Community of Hope AME Church on the lower level of Iverson Mall, 3701 Branch Ave., Hillcrest Heights.

Those with questions should bring identification so that lawyers can help them search for their cases.