Turning your life around after a criminal conviction can be difficult, no matter how hard you try to leave your past behind. For some people, even years of living within the law and avoiding trouble are not enough to secure employment or find adequate housing. Unfortunately, as long as you have a conviction on your record, it can impact your life in numerous ways.
Thankfully, in certain circumstances, it is possible to wipe some offenses from your record through expungement. If you think you may qualify, our Butler County expungement lawyer is here to help. All of our attorneys are former prosecutors and therefore uniquely well equipped to defend criminal cases.
Expungement is a legal process that allows eligible individuals to have certain criminal records erased. When this happens, it is as though the offense never occurred. The process destroys or seals court documents and removes the record from public databases.
While expungement can help individuals move forward after a conviction, not everyone will qualify, and it is only available in certain circumstances. Common situations include when a court dismisses or withdraws the charges, or they result in a not-guilty verdict. Individuals who complete a diversionary program may also be eligible, as may those with summary offenses who have remained arrest-free for at least 5 years. Generally, it is not possible to expunge felony and misdemeanor convictions unless the person is over 70 and has had no arrests for 10 years, or they have been deceased for more than 3 years.
Expungement is subject to strict eligibility requirements, and even a minor mistake could have serious consequences. If you think you may be eligible to have an offense removed from your record in Butler County, our expungement attorney could help determine if you qualify.
While expungement completely removes a criminal record from public view, the state also offers an alternative option known as limited access. Limited access seals certain records rather than erasing them. Under this process, eligible nonviolent misdemeanor convictions remain on file but are not accessible by most employers, landlords, or the general public. However, law enforcement, the courts, and certain state agencies can still access these records.
Limited access is often available to individuals who have completed their sentence and remained free of arrests or other convictions for at least 10 years. It provides a pathway to privacy and rehabilitation if an individual does not qualify for expungement. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand the difference between expungement and limited access in Butler County and determine your eligibility.
There are several reasons why you might want to expunge your record. Having a criminal conviction removed from your record could make it easier to get a better job or help you avoid the negative bias that can make it difficult to find adequate housing. It may also be what you need to move forward. For many people, a criminal conviction represents the lowest point in their lives, and removing it from their record allows them to leave their past behind.
If you are looking to improve your employment and housing prospects in Butler County, an attorney from our firm could help you remove your past conviction records from public view.
If you believe you are eligible to have a criminal offense removed from your record, now is a good time to explore your options with our firm. We can review your case and advise you on whether you qualify for expungement or limited access.
At Benjamin Levine Law, we understand the difference a clean record can make if you are trying to move forward and leave your past mistakes behind. To find out more, reach out to a Butler County expungement lawyer today.