April 16, 2018
No one should have to be penalized an entire lifetime for making one bad choice. Under Florida law, you may be eligible to expunge your criminal record if you meet certain qualifications. A records expungement can greatly improve your professional and educational opportunities. This is because a criminal records expungement amounts to the physical destruction of the files that make up your criminal record. Consequently, it is no longer visible to the general public.
Moreover, if your criminal record is expunged, you will not need to report to a prospective employer or educational institution that you have a criminal record. The experienced St. Petersburg expungement lawyers at Khonsari Law Group can review your criminal record and determine whether or not you are eligible for a criminal records expungement.
Records Expungement
After a period of time passes, an individual may petition the court to have his or her criminal record expunged. In order to have your criminal record expunged, you must generally:
- Not have been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense or comparable ordinance violation
- Not have had any prior sealing or expungement of a criminal record elsewhere
- Not have any open sealing or expungement petitions open or pending
- Not have sustained an indictment, information, or other charging documents in your case. If one was issued, you must have obtained a dismissal or the State must have “nolle prossed” your charges.
Educational Opportunities
College admissions and admissions to graduate programs and professional schools, such as law schools and medical schools, are competitive. In addition to having strong academic records and test scores, applicants are oftentimes subject to character and fitness reviews. During this process, the educational institution will usually perform a criminal background check on all applicants prior to making an admissions decision.
Performing background checks on current and prospective students is easier now than ever. A criminal record of any kind will usually have a negative impact on an admissions decision. In some cases, depending upon the educational institution, an applicant may be denied admission altogether if he or she has a criminal record – regardless of the charges and when they were sustained. Moreover, current students who sustain a criminal record may be at risk of losing scholarship funds.
If a person’s criminal record has been expunged, then the educational institution will not have access to this information online or elsewhere.
Employment Opportunities
Criminal background checks on prospective employees are becoming more and more common. Some employers will not hire a person if that individual has a criminal record of any kind. Moreover, depending upon the nature of the criminal charge, upon conviction, an offender may be fired from his or her job or may lose a professional license. If a person’s criminal record is expunged beforehand, it will not be visible to prospective or current employers, significantly increasing the chances of obtaining a job or keeping a current position.
Call a St. Petersburg Expungement Lawyer Today for a Free Legal Consultation
It is important to understand that even an arrest record without a conviction is a criminal record. Anyone who wants to see it can view that record online. These active criminal records can pose all sorts of problems for individuals when it comes to getting an education or getting (and keeping) a job. The expungement lawyers at Khonsari Law Group can review your case and determine whether or not your record is eligible for expungement.
If you have a criminal record that you would like to have expunged, schedule a free case evaluation with one of our lawyers by calling (727) 269-5300 or sending us an email through our online contact form.