An expungement is the court process that removes a criminal conviction from your record. Some people with criminal histories may not be aware that their criminal record may be eligible for expungement. Expunging your record, if possible, can open you to professional, personal, and educational opportunities. A criminal record may affect a person’s ability to enroll in school, find reasonable housing, obtain gainful employment, and can possibly affect personal relationships with others. It is worth the time to determine whether your criminal record may be eligible for expungement and consult with an experienced criminal record expungement attorney to make sure the process is done correctly.
Successfully seeking an expungement of a criminal charge from your record can alleviate the obligation to disclose the criminal conviction on job applications, loan applications, rental applications and other similar situations when an inquiry has been made about whether you have ever been convicted or a crime.
Having a criminal record expunged, sealed, cleared, or destroyed can be an excellent way to gain a fresh start on life.
Without the weight of a criminal record or old arrest, individuals that successfully expunged a conviction are free from the embarrassment or worry that comes with each new job application. They are finally able to put the past behind them without fearing the damage to a reputation that often comes when friends, family or co-workers learn about a past criminal conviction.
Expunging a criminal record and protecting your reputation has never been more important than it is in today’s world of computer technology. While a criminal record was once a fairly well-kept secret known mostly to law enforcement and the court system, your past is now available for the world to see through online criminal records, databases, court files, and other platforms to access personal information.
Some charges, such as strike charges, cannot be expunged but a qualified attorney may still be able to help. Other charges are up to the discretion of the assigned judge. An experienced attorney is in the best position to draft a declaration to the court showing good cause as to why the charge should be removed from your record. In a case where a criminal charge is eligible to be expunged, a client may begin the process after successfully completing any period of probation.
The Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor represents clients seeking to expunge criminal records at a variety of stages in the criminal process, including:
- Following the completion or termination of probation.
- After misdemeanor sentencing.
- After completion of treatment for nonviolent drug possession.
- Petitioning to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest to a charge.
- Seeking dismissal of a felony or misdemeanor offense.
- Reduction of felony cases to misdemeanor offense.
- Expungement of DUI offenses.
- Early termination of probation.
- Sealing a juvenile record.
- Seeking termination of sex offender registration.
Typically, even after expungement, a criminal conviction can still be used against you when applying for a professional license with the State of California. An attorney experienced with the process can assist you in determining the best course of action.