Expungement May Bring Many Benefits After Conviction

If you have a criminal record, you may find a huge benefit in deleting that history and getting a fresh start. In California, it is possible to get many nonviolent criminal convictions removed from a criminal record by getting an “expungement”.

Expungement is a way to erase your prior criminal record. By following the provisions of California Penal Code 1203.4, a person may get a criminal conviction removed from the courts files and erase all or a portion of their criminal record. In essence, an expungement serves as a post-conviction dismissal.

For prior misdemeanor convictions, such as a driving under the influence (Pen. Code 23152(a) or (b)), drug possession (Health and Safety Code 11350), or minor felony convictions, having a conviction expunged has the same effect as having the conviction dismissed entirely. Once approved by the court, a record of conviction is removed form the courts files. With limited exception, the defendant can treat the prior conviction as if it never happened.

For people who have lost employment opportunities because they were forced to report a prior conviction, an expungement can be the difference between getting a job and continued unemployment. At the very least, eliminating all or a portion of a criminal record is a moral boost.

Being granted an expungement requires filing the proper paper work and usually requires an appearance in court, before a judge.

If you are continually suffering from secondary consequences of a prior misdemeanor conviction, you should consider getting the conviction expunged. You may be denied employment because of past convictions that continue to surface on current job applications or credit reports. You may not even know how you are being affected by your prior convictions. You should seek an expungement and you need the assistance of competent criminal defense attorneys working to ensure your rights are protected, even after your conviction and after you have served your sentence. Call TODAY! Do NOT WAIT! Call the Orange County criminal defense attorneys of Houston & Blanco at 714.841.3921 or email at info@HBLawyers.net.