Criminal Lawyer
As a criminal lawyer from a firm like Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law can explain, criminal convictions can hamper your ability live your best life – and it’s more important than ever to keep your criminal record clean. However, if you have a criminal conviction or if your facing the prospect of being convicted of a crime, it’s vital that you speak with an experienced criminal lawyer to help you with your legal situation.
Expungements Clean Your Record
A criminal conviction can sometimes be expunged after a number of years. It’s important to go over the nuances of the criminal process, including what the difference is between being charged, being convicted and having a criminal record.
The first thing to understand is a criminal charge. A criminal charge is when either an officer or member of the community has probable cause to believe you have committed a crime. When they reach this threshold, you will either be faced with a criminal summons or an order for your arrest. If it’s an order for your arrest, you will need to be served and go before a magistrate in order to receive conditions of pre-trial release.
What does a criminal charge look like on a background check?
A criminal charge will show up on a background check. This is important to keep in mind if you’re trying to get into school or you’re applying for a job, as a criminal charge can be a serious obstacle to those opportunities. Our criminal lawyers understand that this can be a major setback, and it’s especially frustrating since you’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Though this statement is true, a school or a company can hold a criminal charge against you when they consider whether to allow you to become a student or an employee.
If you’re asked if you’ve ever been convicted of a crime, the answer is “no,” because you’ve only been charged. However, if they ask if you’ve ever been charged with a criminal offense the answer would (unfortunately) be “yes”.
If your case has been dismissed, typically you will need an expungement to clear your record. Some jurisdictions will allow for automatic expungements for certain dismissals but it’s important to speak with a top rated criminal lawyer to discuss your options today.
Help My Record to get Expunged
When it comes understanding expungements and finding a way to protect your criminal record, the best advice is to speak with a top rated criminal lawyer. If you’ve had a case dismissed or you have a criminal conviction that you need expunged, you need to speak with a top rated criminal lawyer as soon as possible.