A DA and a state legislator are hosting a free legal clinic in Macon Saturday.

Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney David Cooke and state Rep. Patty Bentley, D-Butler, said Thursday they plan to offer help to those navigating the criminal justice system.

Assistant DAs and others from Cook's office will be available to answer questions, with a focus on record restriction. The law allows for certain criminal history records to be restricted for noncriminal justice purposes—such as for employment—when approved by a prosecutor.

"Research shows that when qualifying minor offenses are removed from a person's record, they are more able to participate in society, and crime goes down," Cooke said in a news release about the event. "Removing these barriers to education and employment makes us safer, and our entire community benefits."

Participants in the event will include representatives from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia Justice Project, Georgia Legal Shield, Georgia Legal Services Program and Peach County Concerned Citizens.

"I encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of this opportunity to speak to representatives from various agencies and get the help they need," Bentley said. "I'm grateful to partner with District Attorney David Cooke to help residents of Peach County and the surrounding area."

The free event will be held at Allen Temple AME Church, 1235 Jones Road, in Byron from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.