If you’ve been convicted of a crime in the state of California, then it’s likely you’ve suffered some long-term consequences. For example, your reaction to a request for a background check is likely to give up – and background checks are needed for seemingly everything. From becoming licensed in California, to getting a new apartment, your criminal history can hurt your prospects for the future. The good thing is that there may be a way out for you and a California expungement lawyer like Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell may be able to help.
Not every type of criminal conviction is eligible for expungement
The first thing to understand is that not every criminal conviction will be eligible for expungement. However, if you have a conviction on your record and you didn’t go to prison, then you may be eligible. You may be surprised to learn that the issue isn’t whether or not the conviction is a misdemeanor or felony – in fact that doesn’t matter at all. As long as you didn’t spend time in prison, you weren’t convicted of a sex crime against someone who wasn’t of age, then you may be eligible for expungement.
What to do before you start the process
Before you’re eligible, you will need to serve all the time on your probation. You’ll also need to pay any fines you were required to pay, or restitution you were charged with. If you don’t commit any violations of your probation, and if you aren’t accused of or convicted of new crimes, then you can call Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell to find out if you qualify for the expungement process.
Juvenile expungements are different
In most cases, a person convicted of a juvenile offense won’t need an attorney. Those charges are expunged automatically after the person in question has served their sentence and when they are of legal age. Again, this is only true if they’ve stayed out of trouble between the time they were convicted and the time they come of age.
You can petition to have arrest records sealed and destroyed
Employers who do a background check are only allowed to consider charges you were actually convicted of, but that doesn’t meant that they won’t be prejudiced if you were simply arrested, even if it didn’t lead to a conviction. That’s why it may make sense for you to petition to have all arrest records that didn’t lead to convictions or plea deals be sealed by the courts and destroyed. When this is done, those arrest records are essentially erased completely.
If you’re ready to get a fresh start and finally move forward, then you’re ready to contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell. We are here to provide you with a free case evaluation. Just call us at (909) 920-0908 and we can briefly go over your case. We’ll let you know if you likely qualify, what the steps are, and how to get prepared. We are here to help you finally move forward without the burden of your past.
