Trustworthy Guidance On How To Clear Your Criminal Record

In this age of fast, simple Internet communication, your criminal record is an open book. Employers, lenders, government agencies and others routinely perform comprehensive background checks. They may uncover an arrest and conviction from deep in your past and hold that against you. If that has already happened, there may be a way to prevent it from happening in the future.

Reach A Lawyer Who Knows The Procedures For Clearing Your Record

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to petition for expungement (also called expunction) of an arrest and/or conviction you incurred many years ago. Recent changes in North Carolina law make this possible for certain offenses committed as an adult in addition to juvenile charges, and we encourage you to contact us at Griffin Law, PLLC, to learn more.

The requirements for expungement are complex, and you will need an experienced lawyer’s help with determining eligibility, filing a petition and collecting affidavits. Some basic considerations include:

• Your expunction petition must be filed in the appropriate jurisdiction.
• Among other factors, the offense for which you are seeking expungement must be a relatively low-level, nonviolent charge from at least 15 years ago.
• You must have nothing more serious than a traffic violation on your record since that prior arrest.

What Types Of Crimes Can Be Expunged?

Under the new expungement rules in North Carolina, there are a number of criminal charges that can be expunged, including but not limited to:

• Dismissed charges — Any charges that were dismissed by the judge or district attorney are eligible for expungement.
• Drug convictions — Eligibility for expungement in these types of cases depends heavily on the type of charge as well as the defendant’s age at the time the offense took place.
• DWI charges — While convictions are excluded from expungement proceedings, dismissed DWI charges and findings of not guilty can qualify for expungement.
• Theft and larceny charges — Under the new expungement rules, misdemeanor larceny charges are eligible for expungement after waiting five years (if they are over 18) or two years (if they are under 18).
• Assault offenses — Assault charges that result in a not guilty finding or case dismissal are eligible for expungement in North Carolina.

Contact Us For A Free Consultation

Criminal charges don’t have to haunt you for the rest of your life. You may be eligible for expungement, and we can help you through the process. To learn more about expunctions in North Carolina or to discuss the details of your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney, contact our Statesville office to schedule a free initial consultation. Call office, or send us an email to get started today.