What is Expungement?

Expungement is a legal process in which an arrest record or a criminal conviction is “sealed” or erased, so no one will be able to obtain the information. In some cases, you may hear the words "setting aside a criminal conviction” instead of expungement.

 

When this occurs there will be no record in the majority of cases of the arrest or the conviction. This provides you with the right to not disclose the incident on any type of application such as for employment, renting or buying property. This arrest or conviction will not show up in public records or when a person does a background check.

 

Of course, this does not mean that it will disappear totally. It will be able to be found in someone searches for your criminal record. However, in most cases for the ordinary tasks we do every day, no one will be privileged to this information. In the majority of cases, government agencies, law enforcement agencies, and criminal courts will be able to obtain the information on the offense.

 

To learn your rights of expungement in a criminal court, you will need the expertise of a criminal defense attorney in your state. Is some, criminal cases, the sealed offense can be viewed for the new case in which you are involved.