Is Your Criminal Past Affecting Your Present?
If you were ever arrested or prosecuted for a crime, those records can resurface many years later to embarrass you or even cost you job opportunities. Expungement is a legal process to seal certain criminal records to keep the past in the past.
The Law Office of NiCale Rector in Anderson can help you seek expungement of criminal records in Indiana. I will determine if your offense is eligible and make sure all criteria are met before we submit your petition to the court.
What Is Expungement?
Expungement applies to arrest records and court records. Even if you were never charged or convicted, those records may show up on formal background checks or even internet searches. I recently represented a man who didn’t want his grandchildren to know about his OWI from years ago. Perhaps you also made mistakes when you were younger that you wish you could erase.
Many low-level offenses such as shoplifting, assault or burglary can be expunged. Higher-level felonies are marked as expunged from public view but they are still visible to law enforcement and the courts. Once an offense is expunged, you do not have to list it on job applications. (Indiana law allows employers to ask “Have you ever been convicted of a crime that has not been expunged?”).
Expungement is fact-specific and not at all automatic. My 20 years of criminal law experience in the Indiana courts is your advantage in making sure that the paperwork is properly completed and filed to give you the best chance of success.
Do You Qualify For Record Expungement?
Certain offenses like OWI, domestic violence and sex crimes are not eligible. Expungement is a one-time opportunity, so if you have multiple offenses we need to be strategic about which one to pursue. I can answer all your questions in our initial consultation. Call me at 765-227-2130 or contact me online.