‘We want to help people be productive’: Bail bonds agent hosts free legal help

Dana Acy was working in the community, “helping people here and there,” she said, when someone suggested she consider becoming a bail bonds agent.

“I thought that was crazy because I didn’t know anything about the criminal justice system,” Acy said recently.

But after she did some research, she changed her mind. She realized Black people are disproportionately represented in the prison system.

“We circulate through the system and don’t know how it works,” Acy said. “I just wanted to bridge the gap.”

This week she aims to do just that as one of the primary organizers of a free event in partnership with the Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender.

Helping people get back on track

On Wednesday, March 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., county residents can go to the Garfield Heights Public Library, 5409 Turney Rd., for help with the following services:

• Starting expungement packets
• Restoring driving privileges (only for Cleveland Municipal Court)
• Removing Cleveland warrant blocks, which prevent a person from applying for or renewing a driver license or vehicle registration if they failed to appear in court or still owe court fees.

One of the first steps someone must take after leaving prison is finding a place to live. But with a warrant block, Acy said, people have a tough time.

“Do you want to open up your property to someone who has a warrant for their arrest?” Acy said. “Landlords are more likely to select someone else.”

Acy wants to continue to provide a space where people can get back on track.

She plans to hold programs through July to help people remove warrant blocks and clear other legal obstacles.

“We want to identify what’s holding them back and provide solutions,” Acy said. “Our goal is to level people up so that they can provide for their families.”