As Somerset County Expungements Lawyers, we at the Fleischer Law Firm frequently speak with individuals whose past mistakes are creating roadblocks to their future success. A prior arrest or conviction can feel like a permanent stain, but in New Jersey, there is a powerful legal tool designed to give you a fresh start: an expungement.
An expungement is the legal process of erasing and sealing all records of an arrest, conviction, or dismissal from the files of courts, police departments, prosecutors’ offices, and other criminal justice agencies. Once a judge grants an expungement order, the event is legally considered not to have occurred. This is not just a formality; it has a profound real-world impact, especially in today’s world where background checks are a standard part of life.
Nearly every potential employer will conduct a background check before making a hiring decision. A criminal record, even for a minor offense from years ago, can disqualify an applicant or prevent them from advancing in their career. The same is true for professional licensing boards; fields like nursing and teaching have strict character requirements, and a past conviction can lead to the denial or revocation of a license essential to your livelihood.
Fortunately, New Jersey law allows for a wide range of records to be cleared. Our Somerset County Expungements Lawyers regularly handle cases involving:
- Adult arrests that did not result in a conviction, such as cases that were dismissed or where you were found not guilty.
- Convictions for disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and municipal ordinance violations.
- Certain indictable offense (felony) convictions, provided specific waiting periods and eligibility requirements are met.
Records of deferred dispositions, including the successful completion of programs like Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) or a Conditional Discharge (CD).
Securing an expungement is an investment in your future. It removes the barriers that may be holding you back from better job opportunities, educational pursuits, and stable housing. It allows you to truthfully and legally answer “no” when asked if you have ever been arrested or convicted. If you are ready to leave the past behind and move forward with a clean slate, contact the Fleischer Law Firm to discuss your case.
