Expungement: Am I Eligible?
There are between 70-100 million people in the United States with a criminal record. Having a criminal record can make living a normal life difficult. Finding a job, an apartment, and even applying for certain types of public assistance can seem like an impossible task. Yet, there may be a solution to your legal troubles. Depending on what convictions are on your criminal record you might be eligible to have them expunged. Engle, Kauffman and VanHorn will help you determine if you are eligible to have your criminal record expunged. The popular thing to do when requesting your record be sealed or expunged is to file a petition. First, you need to find out if you are eligible and how to go about filing the petition. In order to do this, you need the assistance of an expungement attorney.
What is the Difference Between an Expungement and A Sealed Record?
In the state of Pennsylvania, an expungement is the total destruction of a criminal record. This action is done to prevent the police or courts from viewing it. A person’s criminal record is expunged as the remedy to having criminal records show up in a background check.
In contrast, a record sealed in Pennsylvania allows limited accessibility and only closes the record, keeping it from the public. A closed record is accessible to criminal court judges, district attorneys, the police, and employers requesting federal security clearance.
How To Be Eligible for An Expungement
If you have been convicted of a non-violent crime, most likely it can be expunged from your record. Sexual and violent crimes are generally not eligible for expungement. A State College lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible for an expungement. Other cases that may be expunged include the following:
- A summary offense conviction such as loitering or disorderly conduct–as long as you have not been arrested for at least five years since the conviction.
- If you have finished a special curriculum associated with the crime you were convicted of.
- If you have not been arrested for at least 10 years and are 70 years of age or older.
Pennsylvania expungement attorneys know that this is one of the random states offering a partial expungement. A partial expungement is that if you have 20 charged crimes, but only one conviction, the other 19 may be expunged.
What Criminal Records Are Eligible to Be Sealed?
A Pennsylvania expungement attorney can tell you what criminal records are eligible to be sealed. As part of the Clean Slate Law in Pennsylvania, some crimes are eligible for automatic sealing. The following crimes in Pennsylvania are eligible to be sealed automatically:
- If you have had no convictions
- No convictions that are a second or third-degree in the past 10 years
- All summary offenses are no less than 10 years.
Due to a slight overlap, your sealed record may be expunged if you are requiring additional safeguarding. State College law firms know if you are eligible to have your record sealed or expunged.
How Can an Attorney Help
In Pennsylvania, there is a State College expungement attorney that can help get your life back on track. Your life does not have to remain stagnant just because you have a criminal conviction. Engle, Kauffman & VanHorn are expert PA expungement lawyer that knows the navigation process. We will help you understand the legal process and cut through the tireless jargon of legalities. Call us today at (814) 234-8834 and schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Expungement lawyers. Stop allowing a past legal issue to hinder your lifestyle. Contact us today and start living the life you were meant to live!
