If you have a criminal record, then you know how hard it is for you to rent an apartment or get a job. Most landlords and employers ask for your criminal record to see whether you have a criminal history. In most cases, when they find out that you have, then the chances of getting what you wanted are very slim. That is why expunging your criminal record is very important. When you get your criminal record expunged, you get a fresh start and a chance to say that your record is clean. Every state has a different criminal record expungement process. So before you start the expungement process, it is good for you to know more about the process in your locality.
The first thing you have to do to have your record expunged is understand the record expungement process. Here, there are a couple things you can do. These things are:
– Knowing what expungement does
– Consider sealing your records
– Consider a certificate of innocence
– Get a certificate of rehabilitation
1. Knowing what expungement does
You first need to understand what expungement does. Normally, any person can access your criminal record. But when you expunge it, the record will be altered, removed, or some of the offenses in it removed. However, keep in mind that some offenses such as sex ones will remain in your record even after expungement.
2. Consider sealing your record
Expunging and sealing are two different things. You can decide to have your record sealed. When you do this, the record, which would ordinarily be available for public inspection will be removed. The difference between sealing and expunging is; expunging completely destroys the document making it look like the case never happened, whereas, sealing only removes the record from public inspection, but it still exists.
3. Consider a Certificate of Innocence
As an alternative to expungement, you should also consider applying for a Certificate of Innocence. This certificate goes further than a regular expungement. This certificate proves that your arrest and conviction should have never happened because you were innocent.
4. Get a Certificate of Rehabilitation
You should also consider applying for a Certificate of Rehabilitation. This certificate is not available in all states, but just a few ones. A Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court order that declares you are transformed and rehabilitated. This certificate restores some rights that were taken away when you were convicted. For instance, it can relieve people charged with sex offences from having to register.
Being convicted does not mean that your fate is sealed. By, sealing your records, applying for a Certificate of Rehabilitation or Certificate of Innocence, or requesting that your criminal record be expunged, you will be able to restore some of the rights that you were denied due to the conviction.
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