The Reentry and Workforce Opportunity Program works to remove legal barriers to employment, housing, education, and economic stability for individuals through strategies such as driver’s license restoration and expunction (record clearing).
Driver’s License Restoration
Pisgah Legal Services assists clients with restoration of a suspended driver’s license.
More than 300,000 NC drivers face suspension of their driver’s license for unpaid traffic court fines and fees. Being without a driver’s license can have devastating impacts on an individual’s ability to secure a job or housing, get themselves and their family members to essential appointments, and access education, medical care, food, and other basic resources.
Other Driver’s License Restoration Resources
Get an Advice Letter from the NC Bono Resource Center
Self-Help Resources Through NC Fair Chance
Advocacy to Eliminate Suspension of Driver’s Licenses Due to Inability to Pay
Pisgah Legal Services collaborates with the NC Justice Center, NC Fair Chance, and local partners across Western North Carolina to advocate for policy change that would prevent the suspension of driver’s licenses for NC drivers due to their inability to pay fines and fees. Suspending the driver’s licenses of North Carolinians for unpaid court fines and fees is unjust and counterproductive.
Criminal Record Expunction
With support from Buncombe County, Pisgah Legal Services assists eligible Buncombe County residents and non-residents with a history of justice involvement in the County with criminal record clearance to remove barriers to jobs, housing, education and other resources.
Under North Carolina law, opportunities for criminal record expunction (also referred to as expungement) are limited but have expanded in the past few years. Dismissed charges and acquittals are eligible for expunction, and some misdemeanor and lower-level felony convictions may be eligible depending on several factors. Learn more about expunction here.