| Do you have a past criminal record from years ago | | | | requirements must generally be fulfilled. These include |
| that continues to haunt you? Have you ever been | | | | a set amount of time since the criminal record in |
| turned down for a job because of a drunk driving | | | | question, no incidents since the first criminal case, the |
| incident from one wild night out? Are you a one time | | | | number of prior incidents, the seriousness or type of |
| offender and feel that your limited criminal history is | | | | offense involved in the incident, fulfilling the terms of |
| unfairly preventing you from obtaining current and | | | | any sentence, the incident was disposed without a |
| future opportunities? The law of the United States, | | | | conviction, and probation completed without any |
| although heavy-handed at times, does not ignore | | | | problems. Specific requirements vary by state. In |
| previous offenders who have lived a clean life since | | | | Texas, for example, for a misdemeanor charge to be |
| their one offense of the law. An option exists for | | | | dismissed it must be two years since the charge and |
| you - expungement of your criminal record - if you | | | | there must be no felony charges within the previous |
| meet certain requirements. | | | | five years. In addition, there can be no resulting final |
| Expungement, or expunction, of criminal records is | | | | conviction or community service unless the charge |
| designed to provide relief to one time offenders of | | | | was for a class C Misdemeanor. For felony dismissals, |
| the law who have cleaned up their act since their | | | | all misdemeanor requirements must be met. |
| illegal action. A clean criminal record is an invaluable | | | | Furthermore, the case must not have been filed with |
| asset in today's society, where criminal background | | | | the court or the case was dismissed before the trial |
| checks are used in everything such as new job | | | | or a mistake, false information, or other reason |
| opportunities, child custody battles in divorce cases, | | | | indicating lack of probable cause to believe the |
| crucial loans at the bank for a new house, child | | | | person committed offense must be a factor. In |
| adoptions, and professional licensing. In addition, as | | | | contrast, in New Jersey, there is a waiting period of |
| society becomes even more regulated, opportunities | | | | ten years before a criminal record can be expunged. |
| such as firearms regulations, volunteer sports coach | | | | In most states, expunction of juvenile criminal |
| positions, and passport applications could all become | | | | records occurs automatically at a certain age, usually |
| limited prospects for those with a past conviction of | | | | 17 or 18 years of age, to give the youth offender a |
| criminal activity. | | | | clean slate in adulthood. |
| To have a criminal record expunged, several | | | | |