Receiving a criminal conviction in Columbia has the potential to change every part of your life. In addition to the obvious penalties that can exist in the form of fines, probation, or jailtime, criminal convictions will also create a criminal record. This record can make it difficult to obtain employment, apply for housing, or go back to school. Fortunately, state law provides a method whereby you could ask a court to expunge a conviction under certain circumstances with the aid of a trustworthy criminal attorney. A successful petition will see that your criminal record no longer reflects the fact that a court convicted you of the crime in question.
A Columbia expungement lawyer could help you seek out this fresh start. They could obtain your criminal record, identify convictions that may be eligible for expungement, and file the required paperwork with the court to initiate the process.
A criminal record can follow a person for the rest of their life. This record can relegate them to the status of a second-class citizen when they are seeking a new job or looking to receive government benefits. As a result, the advantages of receiving an expungement are clear.
An expungement of a criminal record means that a conviction will no longer appear on a background check. This is the common check that employers, landlords, and branches of the government that are not involved in law enforcement often use. An expungement erases this conviction from an individual’s criminal record. In many examples, this will mean that a person no longer has a criminal record and can truthfully state that they have never been convicted of a crime. A Columbia expungement attorney could provide more information about what it means to expunge a criminal record and why this may bring substantial benefits.
Although expungement is a powerful tool to gain a clean slate, not every person with a criminal record is eligible for this process. South Carolina Code § 17-22-910 provides a list of criminal convictions that may be eligible for expungement. Prominent examples include:
In essence, the expungement program exists primarily for people who have made a singular mistake and stayed out of trouble beyond the event in question. An expungement lawyer in Columbia could assist parties in evaluating their criminal records to determine if they may be eligible for this process. They could then initiate proceedings with the Solicitor’s Office and guide the individual through the necessary procedures.
Getting a fresh start in life requires taking responsibility for one’s past. This includes situations where a past criminal conviction is making it difficult to achieve your goals. Thankfully, South Carolina law recognizes that people who have stayed out of trouble after minor misdemeanor convictions deserve the opportunity to move forward with their lives. The expungement process makes this possible.
A Columbia expungement lawyer could help you if you believe that you qualify for an expungement of your criminal record. A lawyer could evaluate your eligibility, prepare paperwork for the Solicitor’s Office, and start you on your way to a new beginning. Call now to discuss your situation.
