If you have been charged with a crime or have been arrested and the case has been resolved, you may be wondering, "How do I get rid of this criminal record?"
A criminal record can hinder your chances with future employers, government agencies, educational institutions, and more. In Florida, you may seal or expunge your criminal information, so it is not viewable by the public eye.
When a criminal history record is sealed, the form is placed under highly restricted access and is unavailable to private or public entities. Only related entities and specific governmental individuals can access these sealed records, primarily those mentioned in Florida's Law Code 943.059(4)(a).
Expungement means that the offense has been removed from the Florida Department records, and even arrest reports and court files are destroyed. Entities who have had access to an expunged Florida arrest record would not have access to it without a court order. Other than that, there are many benefits to getting your Florida record expunged.
Let's learn more about criminal records and what can be done for someone seeking expungement.
A criminal record can include anything from convictions to arrests. Some law enforcement agencies, including the CIA, narrow the definition to a forcible felony or other specific situations. Even if the court rules in favor of the defendant, criminal offense charges are still going to show up in criminal history checks.
Criminal records affect many people in America, with one in three adults being arrested by 23 years of age. In some cases, authorities may expunge separate criminal charges, which remove interaction with enforcement agents. However, a person with a record would be held accountable for their actions with everyone from lenders to landlords.
An ex or juvenile offender may face a variety of restrictions and official sanctions known as collateral consequences. Many professionals run background checks, and these include but are not limited to:
Besides going through the Florida Law Enforcement Agency, the internet provides multiple commercial background check sites available for public use. It is simple to gather information on people online, which remains valid for criminal background checks. Some curious person could quickly lookup an ex-offender's arrest records, adding unnecessary strain to the relationship.
The biggest hurdle ex-offenders face is finding jobs and applying for loans. It can be challenging for them to spend time in jail rather than pay fines or do community service. People who have a misdemeanor record should contact Florida expungement lawyers to seal or expunge their case.
Contacting Florida Expungement attorneys is the first thing you should do if you have committed a non-violent felony or misdemeanor. They can help you ask for pardon and guide you through getting the record expunged.
First, you need to determine if you qualify for compassion with a criminal defense attorney. They can provide free written information from the criminal justice agency concerning your case.
Individuals sent to a juvenile correctional facility face a more relaxed qualification standard than someone with an adult record. In some states, criminal record expungement is only allowed if no arrests occurred during the conviction.
Although the Criminal Justice Information Program, the State attorney's office, and the arresting agents can still view the Florida expungement record, the state statute may lawfully deny people from having their records sealed in Sarasota County and Pinellas County.
More serious crimes are generally not allowed record sealing through expungement lawyers. These are some of the crimes that are not allowed to go through administrative expungement:
Under the Florida Statutes, you can seek legal advice with expungement lawyers to remove your misdemeanor or juvenile record.
We are the preferred Florida expungement lawyers who maintain a confidential attorney-client relationship with all our representatives. You can use the contact form to reach us and book your free consultation.
Our law firm can aid in removing the public record via the deputy clerk and the statewide prosecutor. You can fill out the online form to begin your free case evaluation and start the diversion program with the state attorney.
Once our law firm has received the relevant information and determines your eligibility to remove the case from public records, it can continue to contact the arresting agency to detach the offense.
In the case of an adjudicated delinquent, the chance of obtaining a sealed record is high if found guilty of a non-violent crime.
In any way you look at it, having an expunged record can help you financially, mentally, and socially.
