F R O M
Continued from page 10
incarceration. Having a suspended license makes it
difficult to get to work to earn the money needed to pay
those fines and fees. Prosecuting someone for driving
with a license that is suspended for financial reasons only
worsens the problem by threatening job security and
undermining public safety.
As part of our office’s efforts to stop this cycle, we
adopted a human-centered approach to handling Driving
with License Suspended (DWLS) cases. If the original
suspension resulted from financial reasons rather than a
public safety issue (such as a DUI), our office works with
the drivers to get their licenses reinstated. When a driver
successfully regains his or her license, our office dismisses
the charges. We implemented this policy in 2017, and
in 2018, we dismissed approximately 2,500 DWLS cases
— 32 percent of the total number of DWLS cases —
because the offender successfully had his or her license
reinstated. We have made our roads safer and freed up
precious criminal justice resources while showing
compassion toward those struggling to make ends meet.
T H E
S T A T E
A T T O R N E Y
An d re w H. Wa r re n - S t at e At t o r n ey
Our office’s commitment to helping those in need
extends beyond those who are currently involved in the
criminal justice system. In 2018, we hosted the first-ever
expungement clinic in Hillsborough County, which
allowed approved applicants to have one criminal
record sealed or expunged for an arrest or charge that
did not result in adjudication. The estimated cost of
expungement or sealing often exceeds $2,500 in
application and legal fees. We were able to host the
clinic at no cost to participants, because of money raised
and services provided by our office and other
community partners. This event helped people move
beyond a single mistake in their past and pursue better
employment and housing opportunities for themselves
and their families.
We are committed to stopping the criminalization of
poverty while prosecuting criminals and serious
offenders who threaten public safety. Dismantling
poverty traps means more than eliminating counter -
productive and wasteful criminal justice policies. It also
means giving struggling families the opportunity to
achieve economic stability.
G RACE H. Y ANG , HCBA P RESIDENT -E LECT
G RACIOUSLY R EQUESTS
THE
H ONOR
OF
Y OUR P RESENCE
AT THE
Installation of Officers and Directors
Thursday, June 6 | 5 to 7 p.m. | Ceremony at 5:45 p.m.
Chester H. Ferguson Law Center
Complimentary for members
R.S.V.P. at www.hillsbar.com or Call (813) 221-7777
Sponsored by:
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