Wiping Your Record Clean Through Expungement
A criminal record can negatively affect your life long after you have fulfilled the terms of your sentence.
A conviction for even a minor offense can jeopardize your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, be accepted into certain graduate school programs, join the military or obtain student loans. If you are a doctor, lawyer, stockbroker or other licensed professional, a criminal record can put your professional license at risk.
I am criminal defense lawyer Steven M. DuBreuil, a Salt Lake City attorney who may be able to help you clear your record through a process called expungement.
What Is Expungement?
In Utah, records of some criminal violations can be expunged, that is, removed from your record. After a successful expungement, you can legally answer "no" to questions about whether you have ever been convicted of a crime.
Not all criminal records can be expunged. Felonies, violent crimes and any kind of sex crimes cannot be removed from your record.
Expungement can be a lengthy process. You must wait five years after the conviction before you can apply for the expungement of a class A misdemeanor and three years for a class B misdemeanor. Even after the wait, you must go to the BCI to get fingerprinted and sign documents. It is not something that can be accomplished overnight.
I will review your circumstances and file a request to obtain a history report from the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). The report will show what offenses are on your record and which ones are eligible for expungement.
Expungement is an option for:
- Adult criminal records
- Juvenile offenses
- Arrest records
Sealing a Criminal Record
In some cases, you may be eligible for non-disclosure. This allows for the sealing of your criminal record so it will not be disclosed to the public.
I offer a free, one-hour consultation to discuss your case and explain how I can help. To learn more about how I can be of assistance, please contact my office by e-mail or call 801-326-3695.
