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Expungement in New Jersey

When an individual commits a crime, they may receive a criminal record. With a criminal record comes certain consequences that will follow the individual for the rest of their life. The state of New Jersey understands that these consequences can drastically impact lives and make it difficult for people to get jobs, housing, education, and loans. This is why the state offers the opportunity of expungement for certain individuals who qualify for it. Expungement allows for an individual’s crimes and misdemeanors to be erased from their criminal history, only to be accessed by certain law enforcement agencies. If you wish to expunge your criminal record, it is important to enlist an attorney that may help your case.

Expungement Laws in New Jersey

Expungement is useful in allowing individuals to have a clean slate and get their life back. It can clear a person’s name of criminal activity and let them start new. When criminal activity is erased from their record, it can open all new doors for the individual’s future. The state of New Jersey also put new laws into effect as of October 2018. These new laws restrict employers from discriminating against applicants for a position if they have an expunged criminal record. The law also speeds up certain expungements, increased the number of convictions that may be expunged from a record (now up to 4 offenses), and shortened the waiting period to expunge a record (now 6 years).

An individual must meet certain criteria in order to have their record expunged. The state of New Jersey only allows expungement for certain crimes. Very serious and extreme crimes cannot be expunged from an individual’s record. This may include crimes such as murder, robbery, kidnapping, arson, sexual assault, or perjury. Those who are found in distributing or in possession of controlled substances cannot expunge their record either.

The Process

Expunging a criminal record can be a long and complicated process. It requires guidelines to be followed as well as paperwork to be filed. When an individual hires an attorney to assist in expunging their record, they must provide the attorney with all records of their crime. Other aspects of the process may include:

  • Filing the Petition for Expungement
  • Filing the Order for Hearing
  • Filing the Expungement Order
  • A written cover letter explaining the documents being filed
  • Providing copies of these files to other governments involved in the case
  • Attending the hearing

Contact our Firm

If you are seeking an expungement of your criminal record, contact The Law Office of Kevin T. Conway today.

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