Many individuals who are found guilty of DUI try to go through the expungement process. Expungement basically means that the person's record is sealed, and the offense will not be accessible by employers or schools doing background checks. Only certain government officials will able to see the expungement on a record.
In order to have your record expunged, you need to meet certain criteria. For instance, the crime that you committed had to not be heinous in nature, and it must also lack severity. Also, the amount of time that has passed between the arrest or conviction is taken into consideration. In addition, other events or crimes that occurred are also considered at the time the expungement is requested.
If all of the criteria are met according to state law, then you can go forward with the expungement process. The first step is to fill out a petition or application and then submit the paperwork to the appropriate court for review. Once the judge signs the Order of Expungement, the case is now sealed.
It's important to remember that not all states or jurisdictions offer expungement as an option. And sometimes expungement is offered for arrests but not for convictions. Even then, sometimes a person needs to be acquitted before they can go forward with expungement. That's why it's vitally important you retain the services of a very good defense lawyer who can educate you in the expungement process.
Filing for an expungement is something that can make your life much easier in the long run. Knowing the law and moving forward with the process will help you move on with your life, allowing you to build a better future for yourself.
