 Clear Your Criminal
Record
When records of an arrest or conviction are sealed or expunged,
a notation is made in the file that the records are "off
limits" to all except law enforcement personnel. For some
purposes, you can treat prior arrests or convictions as though
they had never occurred. The benefit is that if you are applying
for school, a job, an auto or home loan, or perhaps a professional
license, you may be able to answer that you have had no arrests
or convictions - assuming no others exist at that time.
Experience Counts
The rules about who is eligible for expungement and the effect
varies from state to state. Expungements are part of our daily
professional services.
|
Client
Situation
|
The
Result
|
| Record
of felony drug conviction prevented client from re-entry
into the United States from the U.K. NOTE: There is no
statute providing for felony expungement. |
SUCCESS:
Felony drug conviction reduced to a misdemeanor disorderly
conduct. Client is now eligible to re-enter the U.S. |
| Department
of Justice record improperly listed as lewd conduct on
a minor causing reinstatement issues with client's employer. |
SUCCESS:
Record amended from lewd conduct on minor to indecent
exposure based on evidence recovered. Client able to remain
employed. |
| Client
could not work due to an arrest record. The case was dismissed
but the record of arrest alone made it impossible to obtain
work in his chosen field. |
SUCCESS:
Arrest record sealed on an evidentiary finding by the
court, that the client was factually innocent and was
therefore entitled to a record sealing.* |
* General
guidelines about expungement programs:
- You
have to apply in writing for an expungement. This should
only be done by an experienced professional/firm.
- If
you are acquitted of a criminal charge, you may be able
to have the records of the arrest and charge sealed immediately.
- Arrest
and conviction records are not automatically expunged or
sealed after a certain time period.
- Expunged
convictions could be used to increase the severity of a
sentence should a defendant again be convicted.
- Convictions
cannot be expunged until about one year after they occur,
and if the defendant is done serving the sentence and is
facing no new charges.
- Not
all convictions are eligible for expungement. In many states,
defendants cannot expunge felony convictions or convictions
involving sex offenses.
We maintain
an extensive database containing information about what can
and cannot be expunged by state. If you are interested in
sealing your criminal record, we encourage you to call now
for a free/no obligation consultation during which we will
confirm your eligibility and explain the process involved
in completing the expungement.
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