Fresh Start Resource Fair
Next Event
What: Fresh StartWhen: Saturday, Feb 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Harris County Jury Plaza
1201 Congress St,
Downtown Houston
Resources:
- Fresh Start Criminal Record Screening and Sealing
- Housing Rights Workshop for Landlords & Tenants
- South Texas College of Law Legal Clinics: Assistance with civil legal matters, including debt relief and estate planning, for eligible individuals. Learn more about available services and apply for the program on-site.
- Consulate General of Mexico in Houston: Support for Mexican citizens in need of legal services or legal documents. Support includes help with criminal, civil, immigration, labor, and administrative matters, as well as passports, birth and death certificates, military records, wills, and other documents.
-
Harris County Public Health
- ACCESS Harris County: Register for wraparound support and resource assistance related to financial hardships, physical and mental health challenges, housing issues, substance abuse, and social inequity.
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: Learn about lead poisoning and get tested to find out if you or your children have been exposed.
- Harris County Public Health ACCESS Harris County: Register for wraparound support and resource assistance related to financial hardships, physical and mental health challenges, housing issues, substance abuse, and social inequity.
- Harris County Voter Registration: Meet with the Outreach Team and get registered to vote.
Metered street parking, surface lots, and garages are available in the area surrounding the Jury Plaza. Standard rates apply. Participants should follow all parking signs. The Harris County Criminal Courts at Law and its partners are not responsible for parking tickets or towed or booted vehicles.
Sponsors:
- BAYOU City Community Court
- Harris County Criminal Courts at Law
- Harris County Public Defender’s Office
- Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department
- Harris County Criminal District Courts
- Harris County Civil Courts at Law
- Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas
- Houston Apartment Association
- South Texas College of Law Legal Clinics
- Consulate General of Mexico in Houston
- Harris County Public Health
- Harris County Voter Registrar
- Harris County Constable Pct. 1
Upcoming Fresh Start Events
Pre-Registration for record sealing at our February event opens on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, at noon. Please see the pre-registration guidelines below for more information.
BAYOU City Community Court
Launched in 2022, BAYOU City Community Court serves as the community outreach arm of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. The initiative builds upon the criminal misdemeanor judges’ restorative approach to criminal justice, which aims to identify and address root causes of crime, stop the cycle of recidivism, and make the community safer in the process. The work of the community court focuses on rehabilitative justice, as well as community education, outreach, and service.
Fresh Start Criminal Record Screening & Sealing
Offered under the community court, Fresh Start helps eligible community members change their trajectory after experiences with the criminal justice system by sealing their eligible criminal records and connecting them to various community resources at quarterly Fresh Start events.
The second-chance program aims to help people meet their basic needs, reduce recidivism, and make communities safer. It is offered in partnership with the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, Harris County Public Defender’s Office, Harris County Criminal Courts at Law, and Harris County Criminal District Courts.
- You must pre-register online to access Fresh Start criminal record screening and sealing. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- You can only access pre-registration via the blue button at the top of the page. Please be ready to input your name, aliases, physical address, email address, phone number, and date of birth.
- Legal staff will review your criminal history and determine your eligibility prior to the event. Eligible participants must attend the coordinating Fresh Start event in person to receive assistance.
- Pre-registration for the November event begins at noon on Thursday, Oct. 24, and closes on Friday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. – or sooner if all spaces are full.
- Be prepared to sign up at noon, as space is limited and spots fill very quickly. If you have trouble accessing the link after pre-registration launches, try clearing your cache or using a different browser.
Know Your Rights Housing Workshop for Landlords and Tenants*
The Know Your Rights Housing Workshop for Landlords and Tenants aims to help both landlords and tenants better understand their housing rights. The repeating, come-and-go sessions include a brief presentation and time for Q&A. Sessions will focus on topics such as contracts, expectations, landlord and tenant rights, and the eviction process.The workshop is offered by BAYOU City Community Court in partnership with the Harris County Civil Courts at Law, Neighborhood Defender Service of Texas, and the Houston Apartment.
The housing rights workshop is walk-in only. Registration is not needed to attend.