There are several reasons why you might have had your name in the criminal records. You might have been arrested but didn’t get to the courtroom. Or you may have committed a crime, and you took the punishment, or even, there could be a mistake on the record. In most cases, employers and schools do not look at the details.
The expungement of a criminal conviction is a great way to close a chapter on a past mistake and get a fresh start. It enables a person to move forward with their life, without the baggage of having to disclose a criminal record or a prior conviction.
Who Can See My Expunged Record?
PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES
Several charges can add up over time, and increase the sentences against you upon conviction. Prosecutors and judges can obtain your un-expunged criminal record and will use it against you in court.
PROFESSIONAL AGENCIES
In case you are applying for a license, your expunged record may limit you since professional agencies can access your file
PUBLIC EMPLOYERS
Many individuals apply for expungement in the first place since it’s hard to get a job anywhere with a criminal record. Unfortunately, some states still allow employers to view your criminal record if they hold a public position.
Here are some employers who will have access to your criminal record if they are considering you for a position:
- Department of Education
- Human service agencies
- Criminal justice agencies
ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY
When someone wants to explore their options for criminal record expungement, it is important to first and fully understand that a person can only apply and be granted expungement one time in their entire lives. This, therefore, means that you cannot apply to have additional criminal and arrest records expunged after already having your files concealed in the past.
This is why it is crucial to enlist the services of a licensed attorney such as Rogosheske, Rogosheske& Atkins, PLLC, who are familiar with the new expungement laws to facilitate the entire process to ensure that everything is done properly.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why not just move on? Once you talk to Rogosheske, Rogosheske& Atkins, PLLC about your situation, you will have a better sense of what you can do right to overcome the criminal actions of your past. However, if you do not take action and do nothing, you could be facing years of problems. It is always a good decision to find out if there are any legal ways to get the lousy record wiped clean.
Here are some reasons why contacting a reputable law firm to have your criminal records expunged is essential:
- Once you were arrested and charged with a crime, even if it was later withdrawn, it could still remain there. Your current employer may use this, and it may cost you your job.
- If you have a criminal record, it can be challenging to get any job since many employers today do background checks and do not hire those that have a felony conviction.
- In case you need to maintain a license for your profession, the licensing board will do a full background check. You may be denied if you fail the criminal background check even if you’ve held the license for many years.
- You may discover getting into a graduate program much harder to do, if not impossible because certain colleges do a background check.
DO YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPUNGED?
Note that even if you have completed a pre-trial diversion program and your charges were withdrawn, you will still have an arrest record accessible and available for public viewing until it is expunged or sealed. Call our St. Paul’s office for information about expunging criminal records. Or contact us online to talk with one of our attorneys and book a free consultation.