The Importance Of Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement

Posted on: 28 March 2021

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Your criminal record is your entire history of arrests and convictions. The criminal justice system keeps records of everybody with a criminal record. This means that even small mistakes can be accessible for the rest of your life.

Are you interested in sealing or expunging your criminal records? This could make your records more private or even completely gone from view. Here's what you should know.

Who Has Access to Your Criminal Records?

Your criminal records are accessible by many people, including employers and property owners. In fact, the general public could have access to your criminal records. Anybody could know about a conviction on your record, or even a minor arrest or ticket you received decades ago.

What Types of Events Are Included?

All types of events are included in your criminal record, including minor crimes. Even if you were arrested and not found guilty of a crime, you could face a record for the rest of your life. A misdemeanor for which you only paid a ticket could be seen by anybody. An only exception is typically made for crimes committed when one is a juvenile.

Why Is Having a Record a Problem?

You may face several problems with having a criminal record. For example, you may struggle to get into university, get a job, or even find suitable housing. You may even miss out on the public assistance you deserve.

Your record can also be used against you in cases involving the family court. For example, a violent offense in your past could indicate to the judge that you should not have access to your child without supervision, for example.

If your situation involves immigration, you could even be deported. This is true even for misdemeanors on your record.

So, What Can You Do?

The good news is that you may be able to expunge or seal your records in court. Criminal record expungement removes your arrest or conviction from your own record. It will be as if the situation never occurred, meaning that the incident will never be visible to anybody.

If you choose to seal your record, the public cannot have access to your record. Sealing your record means that somebody could access your records in the future if they go to court and gain access, but most people will never know about your situation.

Are you ready to make a change? It's time to meet with a lawyer who can help you expunge or seal your record.