3 Facts About Criminal Record Expungement
by Kenneth Pierce
Many people have regrets about things they did in the past, yet they cannot redo the past. One regret some people have is for a crime they committed many years ago. When you commit a crime, it stays on your record indefinitely. This criminal record follows you wherever you go, yet there is not much you can do about it. There is one thing you could evaluate, though: expungement. If you are interested in getting your criminal record expunged, here are three facts you should know.
The Court Will Not Expunge Every Criminal Charge
The first fact to know about expungement is that the court will not agree to do it for all criminal charges. Courts are willing to offer an expungement for some crimes, though. Every state has expungement rules, and you can talk to a criminal lawyer in your state to find out the rules where you live. If you discover that the charges you have will not qualify for expungement, you might want to drop the issue. There is no reason to request it if your state will not allow it. If you discover that your charges fall into the expungement category, you might want to talk to a lawyer about starting the process.
Expungement Does Not Erase the Charges
The second fact to know is that an expungement does not erase the criminal charges you have on your record. The criminal charges still exist, but an expungement allows the court to hide them. When the court grants you an expungement, they seal the records away. If you need to answer the question of whether you have criminal charges in your past, you can answer no. Even though the charges still exist, the court removes them from the public, and it is as if they did not occur.
You Must Go Through a Process to Get a Record Expunged
The third fact to know is that you must go through a process to get a record expunged. The process begins with hiring a lawyer who files a motion for the request of an expungement. You must go to court for this matter, and the court will decide whether to grant your request or not.
After learning these three things, you might know whether you should pursue an expungement for your criminal charges. For more information about criminal record expungement, talk to a local criminal lawyer to learn more.
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As the sister of a law student, I thought that I could handle my own personal injury case when I was hit by a vehicle as I was walking across the street. Luckily, the car wasn't going very fast – but I did end up with a contusion and a broken leg. Turns out the process wasn't easy and I ended up hiring a lawyer. I learned a lot about the kind of information needed to win a personal injury case such as the kind of evidence that is effective and the types of documentation needed from the insurance company, employers, and even witnesses that were at the scene. My name is Rebecca, and I created this website to help guide you through your personal injury case. There is no reason for you to feel alone throughout the process, and I hope my insight helps you feel more empowered with your decision making.
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