What is Expungement and How Can an Attorney Help?
Posted By Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 16-Mar-2012
Having a criminal charge on your record can greatly impact your life even after you have completed the terms of your sentencing. Luckily, an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help expunge your record and help you avoid limitations to your educational or career opportunities.
What Is Expungement?
Expungement refers to a process in which a court judge will destroy or erase a criminal charge from your record. In some cases, the expungement process simply seals or hides your criminal case from public record so that it will not affect your future endeavors.
How Are Crimes Expunged?
An experienced attorney can help you petition the court for an expungement for misdemeanor charges—however, felony expungements are not usually attainable. Instead, an attorney may be able to help you dismiss the felony and reclassify it as a misdemeanor so that it can be expunged. You must meet a number of qualifications in order for your criminal record to be expunged. For example, the state of Texas may expunge your record if you have been tried for the offense and have been acquitted or pardoned, if you completed a pretrial intervention program, or if your attorney can prove that the charge was made by mistake or under false information. Your attorney may also help you obtain an expungement if you have been released from the charge and the court did not issue a final conviction.
What Are the Benefits of Expungement?
There are several ways that you can benefit from an expungement, including increasing your opportunities to obtain scholarships or college grants, improving your job and housing opportunities, and potentially allowing you the eligibility for professional licenses. An expungement can also help improve your reputation among your community.
The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass are committed to defending your rights and helping you ensure a positive future for you and your family. Let us help you pursue a fresh start by calling our office at .