New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

Having a criminal record can seriously affect your ability to live your life and do normal things, such as pursue a job or get a loan. New Jersey allows certain individuals to have their criminal record erased from public record. Having a conviction removed from your public record is not always easy. A skilled New Jersey expungement attorney can review your criminal history and help you determine if this is an option for you.

There are many benefits to having a record expunged. When a request for expungement is successful, arrests, charges, and convictions will be erased from an individual's public record. In fact, search of the record will result in the phrase "No Record Information." Individuals with an expunged record, for example, will have the legal right to tell prospective employers that the arrest never happened.

Not everyone automatically qualifies for the expungement of a criminal record. There are many factors that are taken into consideration during an expungement proceeding. Here are some questions that are commonly asked:

• Is the individual a repeat offender?


• How long ago was the offense?


• Did the charge or charges involve violent crimes?

Under certain circumstances, felonies may also be expunged. Individuals with the best chances for expungement are people with only one offense, those who have not been arrested for repeat offenses, and individuals who have successfully completed probation.

The experienced Princeton expungement lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of helping New Jersey residents clean up their criminal records. To obtain more information about getting your record expunged, please contact our offices at 609-240-0040 for a free consultation and comprehensive assessment of your specific case.

Depending on the nature of the offense and the prior criminal record of the individual, a New Jersey criminal record can be expunged. This process is not easy and it is not available for all convicted offenders. To discuss if you are able to clear your criminal record, you would be well-advised to seek legal guidance from a skilled attorney.

There are a number of steps that juveniles or adults can take to have their records expunged. First, they will have to request a state police criminal history record. In order to do this, the individual will have to get fingerprinted. Next, they will have to fill out a lengthy petition for expungement. The petition must be filed in the county where the crime was committed. They will then have to have to sign the verification portion of the petition in the presence of a Notary Public. If all goes well, a judge may review the petition, order a hearing and expunge the records.

Not everyone will be able to have their record sealed or expunged. For example, repeat offenders, those who fail to complete their probation successfully, or those who have a prior criminal record may not be able to get their records sealed. Getting an expungement may be critical for someone who is trying to get a job or professional license. Having a criminal record cleared can be a huge milestone in turning one's life around.

The experienced expungement lawyers in New Jersey at Lependorf & Silverstein have helped numerous clients successfully get their records sealed and prior convictions expunged. If you would like to obtain more information about this process, please contact us at 609-240-0040 right away to discuss your case at no cost.