When an individual is arrested and charged with a crime, it introduces a potentially lifelong stain upon his or her reputation and permanent record.
With our fast-paced and technologically advanced society, this information is readily available to practically anyone, anywhere, at anytime if they should care to look into your past.
With evidence of these charges floating around, it can make any individual's personal or professional life more difficult than it might otherwise be.
Fortunately for a person who has found themselves in this undesirable position, there are laws that make it possible for some charges to be permanently eliminated from one's record if certain conditions are met.
This removal is termed an expunction or expungement.
This is a mechanism by which one's record may be permanently altered, meaning that traces of a particular charge may not be considered by law enforcement or discovered by potential employers.
Advantages of Expunction Obtaining an expunction would be impossible without the assistance of a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney.
This alone may be incentive enough to reach out to an attorney who can assist you with your case, but it is certainly not the only reason that obtaining competent representation is advisable.
Expunction is given by a court order.
The decision issued on a requested expunction will be influenced by a variety of factors, including the nature of the offense, the circumstances of the case, and the length of time between the offense and filing a claim.
Criminal charges can have a devastating effect on an individual's life and livelihood.