If you have never been arrested or even received a traffic ticket, you might not know how important it is to have a clean criminal record. There are many reasons to keep your record clean, and some of them might not be the first ones on your mind. Something as innocent as trying to rent a car or an apartment can be impacted if you have a criminal record, but there are things you can do to make sure your record is clear. There are certain criteria that have to be met first, but if you qualify for an expungement, you should take the steps needed to ask the Court for this type of order. Once entered, damaging information is no longer visible for public viewing.

Florida law will let you expunge your record if you were arrested but no charges were ever filed, or if the charges against you were dismissed. You can also ask the Court to clear your record if you received a not guilty verdict in your case, or if you successfully completed the terms of your probation. The top three reasons to have your record expunged include:

  • Having the notation of the crime removed from your record, which means it would not be found if a background check were performed. Many potential employers ask possible hires to undergo such a check, and you might be passed over for the job if your background check reveals certain things.
  • An expungement of a traffic related offense can keep points off of your driving record, which in turn can help you to avoid loss of your driving privileges.
  • If you have an order of expungement, you can check the “no” box when asked on certain types of applications whether you have been convicted of a crime. This is often the first step in most job and school application processes, and a “no” answer is viewed more favorably than a “yes” response.

But, be careful when asking about an expungement, because there are still some agencies that can see the information. If you want to have charges expunged from your criminal record in order to get a job in law enforcement, or certain other governmental agencies, you may not get the result you need. For more information and to determine whether expungement is right for you, call us today.

For more information about expungements, call an experienced defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. We offer an initial consultation for no charge, and look forward to helping you resolve your case in a satisfactory way.