People make mistakes every day — it is human nature. Legal mistakes, however, can follow you for the rest of your life and affect the way you interact with the world. Depending on the nature of the crime that was committed and the age of the offender, some people with a criminal record may be eligible to expunge or seal their criminal records. This process removes or conceals any wrongdoings, but there are some cases where an old record can still be reached.
How Do I Conceal or Expunge My Record?
Many people who have committed a crime wish to remove the crime off of their record in an effort to distance themselves from a past mistake. If you are looking to remove a record, it is important to understand the difference between expunging a record and sealing a record. When a record is expunged, it is destroyed and your name is removed from public records and official files. If a record is sealed, it still exists, but it is not available to the general public. To determine if a criminal record can be sealed or expunged, a few factors have to be taken into consideration.
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The nature of the crime — An important factor that is considered when determining if a crime is eligible to be expunged is the crime’s classification. You can expunge your arrest record, court provisions, and sometimes probation orders. However, if you were convicted of a crime and sentenced, you may be eligible to seal the crime, but not expunge your record.
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