Expungement Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with a criminal offense in the past, you know the negative impact that a record can have on your life. It can make it difficult to get a job, buy a house, travel, or even adopt. Fortunately, you may not have to carry that black mark with you for the rest of your life. Certain cases are eligible for expungement. To see if it’s possible for you to seal your record, schedule a FREE consultation with Stuart Cearley today.
What is Expungement?
An expungement order directs the court to treat a criminal conviction as if it had never occurred, by a process of sealing or destroying a record of criminal conviction from the state or federal record. To “expunge” a record is to erase or remove it completely.
It is important not to confuse an expungement with a legal pardon; and expungement is not a “forgiveness” for committing the criminal offense. In the United States, issuers of a pardon are public officials (i.e. State governors or The President), while expungement proceedings are ordered by a judge or court.
Do Expunged Records Disappear Completely?
If a record is destroyed as a result of an expungement, all relevant documentation is removed from the state court system, however if records are sealed, it may remain available for law enforcement officers. Expungement orders do not remove records from the press, social media, or google, therefore additional documentation regarding the expunged record can still exist outside of the court’s jurisdiction.
Is it Worth it?
After finding out that a record can still be accessed even though an expungement has taken place, you might be asking yourself if pursuing one is even worth it. The short answer is yes, because it may not completely result in a clean slate, it may make your past criminal records confidential to employers, landlords and other officials in the public.
Expungement Lawyer in Arkansas
Expungement of criminal records is an individual right for individuals with specific types of criminal records. An expungement criminal defense lawyer, Stuart Cearley Law Group, help with expungement. Expungement is the cleansing process of criminal record entails the sealing or expunging of a person’s criminal history so it cannot be accessed by most employers, landlords and organizations. Your records become confidential documents and this process allows you to have a clean slate moving forward and helps you get your life back on track.
In Arkansas, the following types of records can be expunged:
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Misdemeanors: Expungement can occur 60 days from the completion of the sentence and other court-ordered obligations.
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Nonviolent felonies: Nonviolent Class C and D felonies are eligible for expungement immediately after completion of the sentence and other court-ordered obligations. Unclassified felonies punishable by less than 10 years' imprisonment are also eligible for expungement.
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Certain drug convictions: Certain drug convictions (Class A and B felonies) are eligible for expungement after 5 years from the completion of the sentence and other court-ordered obligations.
Expungement Attorney
Having an experienced attorney like Stuart Cearley process your expungement, and represent you during this legal procedure is most helpful as it can be a complex and confusing. Determining eligibility is the first step of the process. To determine if you are eligible, your record and history will be closely reviewed by the law team. Once determination of eligibility is made Cearley Law Group will gather supporting documentation, complete the expungement petition to demonstrate the eligibility of expungement criteria. Once complete, the team will submit all required documentation and schedule an expungement hearing with the courts. Our team will represent your case and present evidence to the judge in a court of law and fight vehemently for the beginning of your new life.
Navigating this complex legal process and increasing your chances of success is greatly aided by having a qualified, experienced, and passionate attorney by your side. Cearley Law Group wants to help you straighten your affairs so that you can put your best foot forward. By eliminating past mistakes and cleansing your history, you will be able to put the past behind you and begin anew. Your future awaits you. Contact Cearley Law Group to determine if we are the right lawyer for you today.
