People make mistakes everyday and these mistakes shouldn’t haunt you for the rest of your life. That’s why King Law Firm Attorneys At Law, Inc. wants to help get your criminal record expunged so you can start your life fresh after serving your time.
Expungement is the process of erasing, removing, or sealing a criminal conviction from one’s permanent State or Federal record. It is not a legal pardon or forgiveness of a crime.
In other words, when someone has their criminal record expunged, it becomes as if the conviction never happened in the eyes of the court. States engage in different rules and processes for expungement, and it’s limited to specific situations and crimes.
In California, expungements fall under the jurisdiction of Penal Code 1203.4 PC. Those who have plead guilty may change their plea to not guilty, and those who have been found guilty after pleading not guilty will have their guilty verdict set aside by dismissal of all accusations against them.
Why Should You Get Expunged?
Having your criminal court record expunged allows for more freedom in your day-to-day life. For example, once you have received an expungement, you are no longer required to report your criminal activity on a job application. It’s also beneficial for obtaining a professional license or joining a professional organization.
Remember: an expungement is not privacy protected — It will not remove public records that have already been published regarding the crime committed, nor does it make it invisible on your personal records, unless additional legal actions are taken to clear this information. Also, it does not remove a strike within the three strikes law, nor does it restore gun rights, overturn a suspended license, or keep you from registering as a sex offender.