What Are New Jersey’s Expungement Laws?

Our legal team acknowledges the seriousness that having a criminal record can have on an individual’s life. The jobs you desire, the housing you apply for, and several other goals in life can be limited by a criminal record. However, specific criminal offenses may be released from your record through a method referred to as expungement. Obtaining an expungement is not a given, and those who are eligible will have to take a complicated, document-heavy process. With that in mind, the payoff is worth the work. Moving forward with a clean slate, free of criminal charges can supply you with the best chance of a prosperous future, unburdened by the limitations posed by a criminal record. If you would like to learn more about your eligibility for expungement in the state of New Jersey, give our experienced Bergen County expungement attorney a call today.

What is an expungement in New Jersey?

In the state of New Jersey, expungement is the method by which all records involving a criminal conviction will be removed from your record. However, it is essential to recognize that this does not mean that the case vanishes entirely. Rather, only a limited number of government agencies will have access to the information after expungement and only for limited purposes. Also, note that not every criminal offense can be erased in New Jersey.

What are New Jersey’s expungement laws?

The state of New Jersey just changed its expungement laws in 2020. The new laws include the following:

• If you have obtained an unrelated conviction before your most recent conviction, you may now have the most current conviction expunged as long as it is suitable for expungement.
• Many marijuana-related convictions will now be considered disorderly person offenses rather than criminal convictions when it comes to expungement. This will extend the number of marijuana convictions that a person may expunge.
• You now only have to wait 5 years from the completion of your sentence to request an expungement.
• “Early pathways” expungements authorize a person to petition for expungement within 4 years of the completion of the sentence.
• You can now have up to five disorderly person convictions expunged from your record.
• The “clean slate” expungement will now permit individuals to expunge all expugnable offenses 10 years after their most recent conviction.

If you have questions or concerns about the expungement laws in New Jersey, it is in your best interest to reach out to one of our skilled Bergen County criminal defense attorneys today. Our legal team is prepared with the knowledge and experience needed to make sure that you and your future come first. We are on your side.

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