A criminal record can have a series of impacts on your life. Aside from making you a victim of discrimination, it can affect your chances of landing a job or securing rentals. However, sometimes, you can get an arrest or conviction expunged from your record with the help of an experienced Perrysburg expungement lawyer.
Understanding Expungement
Expungement is the process of sealing arrest and conviction records. In every state, people are allowed to expunge arrests and convictions from their records. In most states, expunged arrest or conviction does not have to be disclosed including to possible employers or landlords.
How to be Eligible for Expungement
An expungement can give a person a sort of fresh start. Thus, if you have been arrested or convicted you must investigate the expungement procedures of your jurisdiction. As you start investigating, ask if there is a certain offense eligible or expungement. A jurisdiction may only allow expungement for arrests and misdemeanor convictions and not allow it for felony convictions. In a lot of jurisdictions, people who were arrested for drug offenses are eligible for diversion programs that often allow for the expungement of records when the program is satisfactorily completed. Also, ask when a person can be eligible. Expungement may be available only after a person has completed servicing their sentence including any term of probation.
When you Might Have to Declare your Past Records
The following are some occasions that require you to declare your past records:
- State licenses. These include contractor licenses, teacher credentials, law licenses, and medical licenses. If you are not sure which state license requires this disclosure, you must ask an experienced expungement attorney.
- Public office. Elected office positions require the disclosure of expungements to promote transparency in the government.
- Law enforcement. Enforcement agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security can look through expunged records. If you plan to join any of these agencies, you must be ready to disclose your past records.
