For the first time in the state of Alabama, people charged with a number of crimes may be able to get those erased from their record. The new law will help people across the state clean up their past and help protect their future. It doesn’t apply to all criminal charges, but there are a number of people across Alabama who could benefit from the law.
Contact The Self Law Firm now about having your
criminal record cleaned up. Call 205-647-1000.
The new expungement law will allow certain criminal charges to be wiped clean from a person’s record in the event the individuals were not convicted. “Innocent until proven guilty” has always been a cornerstone of our judicial system an this is just one more step toward a full recognition of that constitutional right in Alabama.
Not all criminal charges are eligible for expungement, but some, including non-violent felonies and non-violent misdemeanors or traffic violations, are. The charges must have been dismissed, no billed by a grand jury, or given a non-guilty verdict.
We anticipate the new law to be particularly valuable to individuals who are seeking new employment opportunities. Currently, potential employers who use criminal background checks to screen applicants may see a charge in their history and not bother to investigate the specifics or resolution of the charge. By simply seeing a criminal charge, they may pass over the individual in favor of someone else.
If the applicant’s record were expunged, however, they would not have to report that charge to an employer and it would not come up during a background check. There are a couple of steps you’ll need to take if you need your record expunged. You’ll have to file a petition with the circuit court where the offense took place. The District Attorney’s office will have 45 days to object to the petition. If they don’t object, they’ll expunge your record then send it to local law enforcement and other agencies so they can erase the charges from your history.
The Self Law Firm wants to assist you with cleaning up your criminal record and expunging those charges that have been dismissed.