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Bucks County Divorce Attorneys > Blog > General > Criminal Record Expungement – Your Chance at a Brighter Future

Criminal Record Expungement – Your Chance at a Brighter Future

You’ve made some mistakes in your past, and you have made amends and taken your punishment. You are getting your act together and have made some great strides in straightening your life out.

The problem? Your past keeps coming back to haunt you.

Every time you apply for a job, you cringe because you know your potential employer is going to see your criminal record and probably pass you over for someone else.

You are trying to get your own place, but once the landlord sees your criminal history, you get a “sorry, I can’t risk renting to you” response.

It’s tough. You know you have turned your life around, but many people don’t see past the criminal record.

BRIGHT SKIES AHEAD, FOR SOME

The good news is, that for many, you can have your criminal record expunged. What this does is it removes your criminal record from public access. It will not show up on background checks or internet searches about your past.

This does not mean that it completely disappears. Your record is still accessible by law enforcement and other government agencies. Keep this in mind. If you find yourself in trouble again, they are going to be aware that this isn’t your first offense.

You should also be aware that some offenses are not eligible for expungement. In New Jersey, for example, there are 17 offenses that cannot be removed. They include:

  • Aggravated assault
  • Kidnapping
  • Homicide
  • Sexual crimes related to children
  • Robbery
  • Perjury
  • Terrorism

HOW CAN I GET MY RECORD EXPUNGED

Obviously, certain criteria need to met to request a criminal record expungement of your record. There are wait times, that vary for each type of crime, that must pass before you request they be removed. If you have multiple convictions, it may prevent you from requesting them to be removed from your criminal history.

In Pennsylvania, you complete an ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) program, unless you have received a notice from the court that you are exempt.

In October 2016, Pennsylvania added some offenses to the list of eligible expungements. Most second and third-degree misdemeanor offenses are eligible under the new law. There are some exceptions such as:

  • Impersonation of public servant
  • Witness Intimidation
  • Four or more convictions
  • Crimes involving sex offender registration
  • Simple Assault

Though you can represent yourself in an expungement case, you may want to think twice. The process can be complicated and involves several steps and requirements before you even get your case heard.

We have years of experience behind us and do this type of thing every day. We can do the legwork for you and will be with you through every step of the process. Your chances of success increase when you have an attorney experienced in record expungement working for you.

Please contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss your case, and discover how we can help you clear your record and start to live the life you deserve.

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