Newark Expungement Lawyer

Let our attorneys help you protect your future through expungement, the process of sealing a criminal record. To see how expungement may apply in your case, contact our Newark law office and make arrangements for a free consultation with a criminal defense lawyer.

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Expungement in New Jersey

Under New Jersey state law, an expungement of your criminal record means that all records on file with any court, correctional facility, or law enforcement agency are sealed from public access. The records that are expunged include complaints, warrants, arrests reports, commitments, criminal history records, and fingerprints.

Even if you were never found guilty, sealing records is not automatic

If you have ever been arrested, ask a criminal defense lawyer about expungement. Your criminal record is not automatically cleared or expunged with the passage of time. Even if you were never found guilty, an arrest is not expunged unless a court grants your expungement petition.

Guidelines and waiting periods for expungement vary depending on the type of criminal charges and circumstances of the arrest. Certain types of offenses, including traffic violations, cannot be expunged. Waiting periods are calculated from the completion of the sentence.

Write "no convictions" on your job application after expungement

A person who has been granted an expungement can respond that they have no conviction when asked a question about having a criminal record unless seeking a second expungement, seeking a conditional discharge, or seeking to obtain employment in law enforcement. An expungement does not destroy records – rather it extracts and isolates them. Under most circumstances, once an expungement has been granted those records cannot be disclosed. Ask your attorney how New Jersey expungement law applies in your case.

What to bring to your lawyer when discussing expungement:

• copies of all papers pertaining to your arrest(s)
• copies of all court papers pertaining to the disposition of the charge(s) you want expunged
• copies of any reports pertaining to the completion of any probationary or diversionary treatment program