There’s no question that being convicted of a crime can take a huge toll on your life. It can impact the relationships you have with your family and friends, make it difficult to get a job, go to school and find somewhere to live.
Because of the huge impact that a criminal charge can have, you may want to know if there’s a way to have it taken off your record. In this case, you are talking about expungement.
How to know if you are eligible for expunction
The facts of your case determine if it can be expunged. When determining eligibility, the following factors are considered:
- If your case went to trial
- If you faced formal charges
- If the statute of limitations has passed
- The type of offense
If your case was acquitted during the trial, you might have grounds to have your record expunged. However, there are exceptions to this. Even if you were convicted, there are situations where you can still have your record expunged. For example, if you were pardoned or declared innocent for the crime, you were convicted of.
How serious the crime was, also impacts your ability to have it expunged. However, even felonies are potentially expungable. Working with a professional can help you better understand your rights and if your case is eligible for expunction.
Protecting your rights after a criminal conviction
If you are convicted of a crime, there’s no question that you may face several long-term consequences. Because of this, it’s imperative that you take steps to learn about your rights and if expunction is possible. Keep in mind that the possibility of this depends on your situation, your crime and other factors related to your conviction.