Maintaining a clean record is important for many reasons. Some jobs perform back ground checks before making offers of employment, and some schools will require you to disclose your arrest record before you can be admitted for classes. Having a criminal record might even prevent you from getting a loan, renting a house, or obtaining certain licenses. Fortunately, there is a legal remedy for this situation, and if you qualify your criminal record can be “wiped clean”. In order to qualify though, you must meet certain requirements. We can help you make the decision as to whether you seek to have your record sealed by looking at the facts of your case and letting you know if the process is available to you.
The procedure for sealing a record is called expungement. Florida law allows an individual to make the request for expungement of a criminal recorded under the following three circumstances:
- The charges against you were never filed, even though you were arrested.
- The charges were dismissed after having been filed.
- You were found not guilty.
Successfully completing all of the terms of probation will also allow you to expunge the charges. A word of caution about expungement is in order though, because there are circumstances where the record will still be visible. If you are seeking federal employment, or applying for a job in law enforcement, the governmental agencies in charge of hiring for those positions will be able to see your record. Because the goal of expunging your record is to keep it hidden from view, it is important to know if the desired result is possible. If you have charges you want to have expunged from your criminal record, call us to see if you qualify. We will review your case and let you know what course of action is best for you.
For answers to questions about expunging records, call an experienced criminal defense attorney today. Skilled criminal defense attorneys in Stuart and the Treasure Coast are here to help you reach workable solutions. Your first visit is a free initial consultation.