There is no doubt that a criminal offense, regardless of whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony conviction, may be looked down upon in the state of New Jersey. That is, your criminal history may follow you around indefinitely and ultimately infect many aspects of your daily life. Read on to discover the burdens of a criminal record and how a seasoned Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you extinguish these hindrances.
What are the burdens of a criminal record in the state of New Jersey?
When you are initially convicted of a criminal offense, you may be worrying about the prison/jail time you have to serve, the fines you have to pay, and the community service you have to conduct, among other penalties. But you must also consider the burdens that may subsequently come with your criminal record. Examples are as follows:
- You may be hindered from certain job opportunities.
- You may be hindered from renting certain properties.
- You may be hindered from applying for certain loans.
- You may be hindered from obtaining a driver’s license.
- You may be placed on the Sex Offender Registry in your area, if applicable.
- You may threaten your immigration status in the United States, if applicable.
Is my arrest record permanent?
Generally speaking, your arrest record and criminal history may remain permanent. Though, you may be able to wipe the slate clean by filing a petition for expungement. This may be worthwhile, as an expungement may come with the following benefits:
- You may no longer be hindered from obtaining property, loans, a driver’s license, citizenship status, etc.
- You may be able to legally answer “no” on job applications and during job interviews when asked if you were ever arrested or convicted of a crime.
- You may be able to gain employment in law enforcement, government agencies, or otherwise industries in which security clearance is required.
- You may be able to purchase and possess firearms.
It must be noted that only certain circumstances make you eligible for an expungement of your criminal record. They are as follows:
- Your misdemeanor or felony conviction must qualify for an expungement opportunity (i.e., homicide, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault do not qualify).
- Your misdemeanor or felony conviction must have taken place at least five to 10 years ago for an expungement opportunity.
- You must have completed all the penalties associated with your misdemeanor or felony conviction (i.e., prison/jail time, fines, and community service but be satisfied).
If expunging your criminal record is something you wish to kickstart today, then you must retain the services of a competent Morristown criminal defense lawyer from Graves Andrews, LLC. We await sitting down with you at your initial consultation.
