Get Your Crimes Removed From Your Record
Learn About Expungement With The Law Office Of Jordan B. Rickards
Sometimes one bad decision seems to follow you around for life. You’ve paid your fine, served your time, and fulfilled all of the requirements of a conviction a long time ago. Nonetheless, the subject of your arrest or conviction seems to keep coming up. It follows you when you want to apply for nursing school, or decide to become a teacher, or any number of other things. Maybe you’re pursuing a firearms identification card or want to rent a nice place to live. Many of these efforts require you to pass a background check.
Depending upon the kind of arrests or convictions that show up on your record, you may find that many doors are closed to you, no matter the current state of our affairs and lawful dealings. To learn more about expungement, contact our New Jersey lawyer today!
Understanding Expungement in New Jersey
If you were ever arrested and/or convicted of a criminal offense in the state of New Jersey, it may be possible to have that record expunged. If successful, an expungement would erase your record from any mention of that arrest and/or conviction. However, not every offense is eligible for expungement. That’s why it’s imperative to consult with an expungement attorney. When you work with the Law Office of Jordan B. Rickards, you will receive high-quality service from our lead attorney. Mr. Rickards has extensive experience in various forms of law, and will work with you to remove your past mistakes from your record so you can continue living a happy, successful life.
The Expungement Process
As a general rule, disorderly persons (misdemeanor) convictions are expungeable five years after the date that any fines and period of supervisory probation has ended. However, the court may expunge such an offense after only three years for good cause shown. Further, young drug offenders (meaning people who were 21 years-old or younger at the time of the offense), who were only charged with possessing an illegal drug, may apply for an expungement after one year.
Only two disorderly persons (misdemeanor) offenses may be expunged. If a defendant has completed a period of conditional discharge, that arrest can be expunged six months after the conditional discharge was terminated.
Convictions for a violation of a municipal ordinance may be expunged after two years.
Juvenile convictions are expungeable five years after discharge of the convicted from legal custody or supervision, or five years have elapsed from the entry of the judgment of delinquency.
Indictable convictions (felonies) are expungeable after ten years from the date that any supervisory probation or incarceration is completed, or the final payment of a fine, whichever is latest. Only one indictable may be expunged.
CERTAIN OFFENSES ARE NOT EXPUNGEABLE
These are as follows:
- Criminal homicide, except death by auto
- Kidnapping
- Luring or enticing
- Human trafficking
- Sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault
- Aggravated criminal sexual contact
- Criminal sexual contact (with a minor)
- Criminal restraint
- False imprisonment
- Robbery
- Arson and related offenses
- Endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, or causing the child other harm
- Photographing or filming a child in a prohibited sexual act
- Causing or permitting a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act
- Distributing, possessing with intent to distribute, or using a file-sharing program to store items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child
- Possessing or viewing items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child
- Perjury
- False swearing
- Knowingly promoting the prostitution of the actor’s child
- Terrorism
- Producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices
- Conspiracies or attempts to commit such crimes
Also, convictions for the sale or distribution, or intent to sell or distribute drugs are not expungeable except in cases of marijuana under 25 grams, hashish under 5 grams, or any other drug sale or possession with intent resulting in a third or fourth degree conviction, where the court finds that expungement is within the public interest.