A criminal record can have serious consequences, even if you are not arrested or convicted. A record can affect employment, rental applications, and credit. However, most states offer a process for expungement of a criminal record. After a certain amount of time, some states may allow a criminal arrest record to be removed. The barriers also help create spaces where people can move on with their lives and become productive citizens. Even in the age of the Internet, various legal and online reputation methods allow you to expunge a criminal record and clean your online image. The next part of this article explores many of these methods and how you can use them to get the results you want.
Can an expunged criminal arrest record show up in an online search?
Many factors affect the process, but police departments and some licensing boards may still be able to trace the records. For instance, the Internet can give a Google search the power to identify your unflattering mugshot on the first search page of your name. Fortunately, several reputable online companies offer quick, efficient mugshot removal services.
If you’re interested in learning more about the expungement process, here’s another example:
Mike Jones was convicted in 2016 of felony theft in Texas. He is sentenced to 12 months in jail, plus three years’ probation. The person went to jail in 2016 and is done with it. However, the state allows expungement of theft convictions five years after the person has served the sentence, provided the person doesn’t re-offend during that period. This means that come 2025, John will be able to petition the Texas Court for expungement of his 2016 conviction.
What Does Expungement Mean?
Expungement is the process of sealing the record of a criminal conviction. In most states, people can have their criminal records and convictions erased from their official files. However, some states have stricter laws that allow only certain people to have their criminal records and convictions expunged, while others allow more people to have them expunged for most offenses.
Suppose that Mike Jones had a minor brush with the law when he was 21. He was convicted of the crime, but the conviction was later expunged. Mike is now eligible for a job, and he can honestly answer the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?” with a “No!”
Eligibility.
People seeking a fresh start often begin the expungement process by researching the available procedures in the jurisdiction where they want to apply. If you are looking to expunge a criminal record, start by checking whether the agency that handled your arrest is still in operation. They will have a record of your case and have the ability to help you expunge the case. Keep in mind that a jurisdiction may allow expungement of arrests and misdemeanor convictions, but draw the line when it comes to felony convictions. Certain states may only expunge records after the person has completed their sentence, including any probation period. If a judge were presented with a valid argument for shortening a probation period, he or she may rule on expunging the record.
How Does The Process Work?
The process of getting a criminal record sealed or “expunged” has become much easier in recent years. A person must file a form (usually called a petition) asking a court to seal or “expunge” his or her criminal record. In some states, the process of sealing or expunging criminal arrest records is called a Motion for Expungement. While some states prefer the more formal terms dismissal, set-aside, expunction, sealing, etc. The filing fees vary (some states require the petitioner to pay the fee, while others require the state to pay it) and can be in the ballpark of several hundred dollars, but some states offer a reduced fee for petitioners who can demonstrate financial difficulties. The filing fees are not usually recoverable through legal action.
Drug Offenses
People often receive more lenient sentences for drug crimes and juvenile offenders when they are sentenced to more lenient sentences. Many jurisdictions also facilitate the expungement of these sentences. Individuals in the first category who are interested in expunging criminal records are eligible for several programs that typically offer sealing of records upon completion. A juvenile with good conduct records as an adult may benefit from full record clearance once he reaches the age of 18. With a rise in misdemeanor convictions, many states have expanded their laws governing expungement of criminal records. Fortunately, there are professionals to help navigate the latest state expungements.
What About Your Online Information
Your online presence is becoming more important with the increasing popularity of social media. Here are some important things to consider when creating your online presence. Our online monitoring system will monitor all aspects of your online presence and will ensure that everything related to your arrest is removed from the top 45+ data aggregators.
Automatic Expungements
In 1980, Pennsylvania became the first state to automatically expunge procedures for certain cases. Between 1980 and 2015, 39 states made the process automatic for certain cases. In 2019, California and Utah followed with similar laws. We can work together to determine the best course of action to remove any arrest record from the Internet and give you a fresh start. We can remove mugshots, negative posts, and negative content.