If you have gotten yourself into some serious trouble with the law in the past, you should know that in California you may be able to obtain an expungement of your criminal records. At the Law Offices of Richard Sax, located in Santa Rosa, CA, our criminal defense lawyers will meet with you to discuss your situation and see if we can help you achieve a fresh start on life. There are many eligible people who never apply because they don’t realize they can. The potential benefits that you can receive by doing this can be completely life-changing.

We understand that you may have had painful experiences with the criminal justice system and are just ready to accept that this is your lot in life. However, we know the specific conditions required before an expungement request can be considered, and we can go over all of it with you. We’ll explain the process to you, what the limitations are, and of course what benefits you’d receive from the whole process to make it faster and easier on everyone.

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

As a general rule, you are allowed an expungement for a felony or misdemeanor offense if you have first completed probation, and if you are currently not on probation, charged with a crime, or serving a sentence for a criminal offense.

Successfully completing probation means that all the terms of your probation have been met. These include paying all fines and restitution, completing community service, and completing any counseling programs. You have also attended all the required court appearances either through an attorney or personally, and you have not committed any new crimes while on probation.

Courthouse photoIf you are an individual who has received a violation of their probation, you still might be able to expunge your criminal records. We can help determine if you are a good candidate for expungement or not. Some factors that a judge considers include the seriousness of the underlying conviction, your overall performance while on probation, your criminal history, and any other evidence which shows why you deserve this relief. Expungement can include the opportunity to get a good job, create strong ties with the community, better support from your family, and the like.

What are the Benefits of Expungement?

So why would you want an expungement? First of all, people who receive one tend to do quite well. They can find employment much easier since an employer cannot discriminate against them based on expunged convictions. You may also see that acquiring increased wages can be much easier and even be able to get a state license in some professions like real estate or a contractor’s license.

After an expungement, you can even lawfully answer no when asked if you have been convicted of a crime. This whole process can help you have self-confidence, obtain happiness, and overall personal satisfaction.

If you are looking for an experienced attorney in the Santa Rosa, California area to see if you can obtain expungement of a felony or misdemeanor conviction, contact our attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard Sax by calling (707) 525-1824 or send an email to richard@rsaxlaw.com for a free initial consultation. We will work with you to see if we can remove the charges or seal your record.

 

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