Expungement Can Help You After You’ve Been Convicted
Historically, Missouri state law has only allowed for the expungement of criminal convictions for a select few misdemeanor and felony charges (such as DUI expungement). A new law that goes into effect in 2018 will expand expungement eligibility to include all misdemeanors and non-Class A felonies.
What do these upcoming changes mean for you? It means people convicted of criminal charges may be able to get protection from the long-term consequences of having a criminal record. Expungement may help you retain eligibility for employment, housing and other opportunities that often are out of reach for people with a criminal record.
To learn more about whether you are eligible for expungement, enlist help from an experienced criminal defense attorney who can walk you through the process, including prescreening and background check issues. Contact us at Aull, Sherman, Worthington, Giorza & Hamilton, L.L.C., in Lafayette County, Missouri, to set up a consultation.
Am I Eligible For Expungement?
Eligibility for expungement is being greatly expanded, but there is still a long list of convictions that will be exempt from eligibility. These exempted convictions include violent offenses, sexual offenses and some weapons and corruption charges.
Eligibility is also determined by the convicted person’s particular case. For example, to be eligible, he or she must:
- Have no convictions during the waiting period
- Have no pending charges
- Have satisfied obligations for sentencing (this may include payment of restitution)
In order to achieve expungement, one must be able to prove eligibility and the petitioner must not be a threat to public safety, public welfare or the interest of justice. Furthermore, there will now be a limit to the number of expungements possible in one’s lifetime. Convicted individuals will only be able to expunge misdemeanors twice and are only eligible for one felony expungement.
Contact Us Today
This is an ever-changing and complex area of criminal law. To better understand your eligibility and how new Missouri law will affect you, discuss your case with an experienced defense lawyer at our office.
You deserve a chance at a bright future. Call us at 660-251-4138 or send us an email to learn more about your post-conviction options.
