If you were convicted of a crime, you know that the conviction becomes a part of your permanent record. You and your family could suffer for years due to your criminal record. In some instances, those with a conviction may be able to get it removed. This process is called expungement. If you meet the criteria, you could be able to file a petition for expungement. A skilled criminal defense attorney will help you with expungement in Sacramento.
What is Expungement?
Expungement in Sacramento is a legal process that seals or removes your criminal record. It can effectively reduce or eliminate the ability of people to see that you have a criminal conviction. If you were convicted of a crime, there are some ways to legally expunge the record, in some cases. A criminal conviction can make it difficult to get employment, rent an apartment, and get into school, among other things. If you have a criminal record, you may want to hire a Sacramento criminal defense attorney to handle expungement.
How Expungement Works
Expungement is a legal way to make changes to your permanent record. If a judge grants an expungement, your record will change from a guilty plea to a not-guilty plea and the conviction will be removed from the file. Expungement in Sacramento doesn’t completely clean your record, but it can certainly help by removing harmful information. When someone looks up your history, it will no longer show that you had a criminal conviction. You will be able to tell people that you do not have a criminal conviction on your record. While expungement can be beneficial, it isn’t available to everyone.
Do I Qualify for Expungement in Sacramento?
You may qualify for expungement if you are not currently on probation and have not since been charged with another crime. Generally, felony crimes do not qualify for expungement unless they could have been charged as misdemeanors. If you served a prison sentence for a felony conviction, you likely are not eligible for expungement in Sacramento. Other reasons that you may not meet the criteria include when you committed a sexual offense against a minor and when you had a severe vehicle violation. If you have a criminal record, it can be difficult to get employment, rent an apartment, and get into school, among other things. A Sacramento criminal defense attorney will evaluate your case and help you file for expungement.
How to Request Expungement
Expungement requires a legal process that allows a judge to review the situation and decide. If you qualify for expungement in Sacramento, you can file a petition. First, obtain a copy of your criminal record to find out if you are eligible. You must complete any probation and pay any fines or restitution before you may file. If you have a felony conviction, the process is more challenging because you must first petition the court to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor when appropriate. File a petition and pay the necessary fee. It is helpful to seek legal representation from a qualified Sacramento criminal defense attorney. Contact our legal team at Brennan Defense for expungement and all your criminal legal defense needs.