Expungement is a court-ordered process where a legal criminal conviction is erased from the records. It allows you to honestly and legally say you have not been convicted of a crime. You do not have to mention it to a potential employer – it is as though the arrest never happened.
Palm Desert Expungment / Clear Your Record Lawyers of Coachella Valley
California law allows you to have your conviction expunged after you complete your probation if you are not facing further new charges. According to California Penal Code Section 1203.4, “If you were not placed on probation, you can have your record expunged one year after your conviction.”
Eligibility
An individual’s criminal record must meet specific standards in order to qualify for an expungement of his or her record. For example:
- The severity of the crime
- The time passed since arrest
- Prior history
Next steps
An individual needs to initiate the expungement process; it does not happen automatically. In order to qualify, the individual must fill out a ‘Petition and Order for Expungement and submit to the proper California criminal court. A judge will review and make a decision. The expungement process can be complex; a Criminal Law attorney can help with this.
Benefits
Expungement completely clears your criminal record. You are free to tell a potential employer, family and friends that you have not been convicted of a crime. You are now eligible for housing assistance or student loans. Most importantly, you do not have to be embarrassed if someone does a background check on you.
If you are convicted of a felony crime, contact an experienced Palm Springs Expungment attorney at The Law Office of Dale Gribow; he or she may be able to have the crime reduced to a misdemeanor and then expunged so you can move on with your life.