If you made a mistake and were charged with a felony, but you have made every effort to get back on the right track, you may be wondering if it’s possible to erase this blot from your record. Some crimes can be expunged, which makes it almost like you never committed the crime or were accused of it in the first place. It’s rarely easy to get an expungement though, and a Montgomery County expungement lawyer from our firm can tell you why that is.
Is It Possible to Get a Felony Conviction Expunged?
It is possible, but it’s not easy. In order to get a felony expunged, you must file for a pardon. This is an involved process and it can take a while. You may or may not receive a pardon, and without one that conviction is going to stay on your record.
The other option is only available to our older clients. Someone who is over 70 years old can qualify to have their past felony convictions expunged if they meet other conditions. One criteria is that they have not been arrested or charged for a crime for the last decade. Some people can also have their felony conviction expunged after they have been deceased for three years.
What Factors Can Affect My Ability to Get a Felony Expunged?
When you ask for a felony conviction to be expunged, the court is going to look at your entire history to see if you are a good candidate for a pardon. Some factors that can make a difference include:
- How many times you’ve been convicted of a crime
- When you were last convicted
- How many felony charges and convictions are on your record
What if I Was Charged and Not Convicted?
The good news is that you can expunge a felony if you were not convicted. So if you were just charged with a felony, that can be addressed. You can ask for an expungement if the charges were dropped or if there was a “not guilty” verdict. In some cases, you can also ask to have the charge expunged if you completed a diversion program of some sort. These are programs meant to replace traditional punishments like prison time.
Who Can See an Expunged Record?
When a felony charge is expunged, the only people who see it are cops and others who work within the legal system. It’s not going to come up on a background check when you are seeking employment or housing. This is one of the main benefits of going through this process.
Talk to a Criminal Defense Attorney
The best way to keep a conviction off of your record is to beat the state’s case against you. So if you are facing charges, contact Mudrick & Zucker to schedule a consultation. We will take a unique approach to your case and find the best possible defensive strategy that we can.