What is the expunction process and how can it help me?

A criminal conviction might impact the ability to secure a job, find housing, obtain financial aid and possess a firearm in some instances. For those reasons, accused individuals wishing to be free of a previous criminal conviction should understand and consider the expunction process.

What does it mean to have a criminal record expunged?

Expunction, also known as expungement, seals the criminal conviction or arrest. For practical purposes, the conviction or arrest will be erased from the accused individual’s criminal record. When applying for a job or an apartment, for example, the accused individual will no longer need to disclose the incident. Likewise, the conviction or arrest should not appear on a background search conducted by an employer or educational institution.

Is every criminal conviction eligible?

Expungement is a court process and its availability depends on a variety of factors including where the accused individual’s conviction took place. Other factors that can impact the availability of expunction are the nature of the charge, the amount of time that has passed since the arrest or conviction, and the accused’s overall criminal history.

Having a criminal conviction expunged can have a significant impact on an accused individual’s life. It is an important part of the criminal defense process to be aware of. The expunction process can also be complex, which is why trained guidance through it is valuable to have.