You may have committed a criminal offense a long time ago. Since then, you may have taken active measures to learn from your mistakes, rehabilitate, and overall become a better person for society. Even with these efforts made, you may find yourself still being held back by carrying around your permanent criminal record. For this reason alone, you may hope to get it expunged. Please follow along to find out the crimes that are eligible for expungement in the state of New Jersey and how a proficient Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC, can help you be granted one.
What crimes are eligible for expungement in the state of New Jersey?
Generally speaking, you may be eligible to expunge up to one indictable offense and up to three disorderly persons offenses from your permanent criminal record. However, there are certain conditions you must meet first. That is, you must hold off until the mandatory waiting period is over, which is usually five years after completing a sentence or probationary period for an indictable offense and three years for a disorderly persons offense. Then, you must have paid off all fines and fees associated with your offense. Lastly, to have an expungement stand, you must remain offense-free for a certain period, typically 10 years.
It is worth mentioning, though, that certain crimes may be deemed ineligible for expungement in the state of New Jersey. This is usually if the court finds that it is not in the public interest to grant the expungement. Just to name a few, ineligible crimes include murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, arson, certain serious drug offenses, human trafficking, luring or enticing, endangering the welfare of a child, perjury and bribery, false swearing, and more.
Why should I attempt to get my criminal record expunged?
It is almost always the case that we recommend our clients file a petition with the New Jersey criminal court to request the expungement of their criminal record. Even though you already served your sentence, paid your fines, and this incident is well in your past, it may still have significant negative effects on your future life. In other words, it may hold you back from getting the fresh start you need after hitting this low point.
Specifically, by sealing or destroying the record of your criminal offense, you may have better chances at getting employment opportunities you are interested in, obtaining housing that you would love to move into, getting approved for loans to pursue personal and business ventures, getting accepted to academic programs to further your education in something you are passionate about, and so much more. To put it simply, there is no harm in trying to put yourself at a better advantage in life.
In conclusion, if you find yourself in need of legal aid, look no further than a talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer. Whether you simply have a legal question or require legal representation in an upcoming court case, our team at Graves Andrews, LLC is willing to help out. Pick up the phone and call us today.