Posted by Gurjit Srai In Uncategorized November 17, 2021 0 Comment

Being human means making mistakes. Sometimes making mistakes results in getting arrested or being criminally convicted. Unfortunately, these mistakes can haunt you for the rest of your life. New Jersey law, however, allows for people who have learned their mistakes in certain situations to have their criminal records expunged.

To determine whether you are eligible to have your criminal records expunged, it is important to immediately consult with an experienced Stockton expungement attorney.

What Is an Expungement?

Before you can determine whether you qualify for an expungement of your criminal records, you need to first understand what an expungement process is and what it will do. An expungement allows you to have your criminal record “cleaned up” and act as if you never had a criminal history. This can be useful when applying for anything that requires a background check, such as applying for a job or an apartment.

However, despite mistaken beliefs, an expungement does not completely erase or remove criminal history as if it never happened. There will always be some trail of your criminal history, whether it’s the memory of the judge and attorney, or electronic and paper records filed somewhere.

A more accurate way of looking at an expungement is that it allows you to answer “no” when asked if you have ever been arrested, convicted of a crime or participated as a defendant in a criminal proceeding.

Qualifying for an Expungement in Central Valley, California

The eligibility requirements for an expungement of a conviction in California will depend on whether you meet certain requirements. If you have been convicted of an infraction, misdemeanor or felony, you may have your conviction record expunged if you satisfy the following criteria:  

  •  You were charged and convicted in state court (federal court convictions are NOT eligible for expungement).
  • You were not sentenced to state prison, rather only county jail and/or a holding cell.
  • You successfully finished your probationary term. If you were not given probation, then one year has passed since the conviction date.
  • You have satisfied all the requirements of your sentence.
  • You are not currently being charged with another criminal offense or on probation for another conviction.

Additionally, only certain criminal offenses qualify for expungement, including:

  • Minor drug charges
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Violations of municipal ordinances
  • Certain indictable offenses

Certain serious crimes are not available for expungement, such as:

  • Murder
  • Major drug offenses
  • Kidnapping
  • Sex crimes
  • Robbery
  • Burglary

 Call an Experienced Central Valley Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime in the Central Valley and is seeking an expungement of your conviction record, it is in your best interest to immediately consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you learn your legal rights and options.  

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with Central Valley criminal defense attorney Gurjit Srai, please call (209) 323-5558 or complete our online form.