Florida Attorneys Accomplished in Sealing and Expunging Records
Today's job market is very competitive. If you have been convicted of a crime, it may hold you back from consideration for jobs or promotions. Schools look at past criminal records to determine future potential, as do many professional licensing agencies.
If you have been convicted of a crime, our attorneys can help you seal the records or expunge them, that is, take them out of the system completely.
If you would like to make a fresh start, contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the law firm of Bauer, Crider, Pellegrino & Parry in Tampa, Clearwater and Port Richey, Florida.
Our attorneys have more than 130 years of combined legal experience in criminal defense, including expungement of criminal records, and are happy to work with you to clear your good name.
The Process: Expungement of Criminal Records
In Florida you can petition the court for expungement of criminal records, or deleting all records relating to your arrest and criminal charges, provided the following criteria are met:
- You must not be on probation or in any court-ordered supervisory program
- You must have not been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony
- You have never applied for expungement before
You also be able to pursue expungement if the State brought charges, but did not prosecute or if you were wrongfully arrested.
The Process: Sealing Records
Many of the same guidelines apply when you seal criminal records. The main difference is that the records are sealed by the court clerk, and cannot be viewed by the public. The police records and court records are not physically destroyed, as they would be in expungement, and are accessible by court order.
If you were arrested on a criminal charge and successfully completed a court-ordered diversion program, those records would qualify for sealing.
Certain crimes such as acts of terrorism, manslaughter or kidnapping do not qualify for sealing or expungement.
Sealing and expungement are fairly lengthy, complicated processes. We advise you to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who handles sealing and expungement of criminal records regularly. To clear your criminal record in south Florida, contact us for a free initial consultation in our Tampa, Clearwater or Port Richey law offices.
