Expungement Lawyer in Louisiana and Mississippi
If you were arrested for a charge of any kind, but not convicted, or convicted of a minor charge, you may be able to have your record expunged. Once expunged, your arrest or conviction will be “sealed” and will not be available to the public or visible on criminal background checks. The record will still exist and can be viewed by certain government agencies such as law enforcement, but an expungement can be extremely beneficial to you if a public criminal record would prevent you from getting a job, renting an apartment, attending school, or applying for a professional license.
Charges Eligible for Expunction Vary by State
There are specific eligibility requirements for criminal expungement which vary from state to state. Generally speaking, arrests which do not lead to a conviction may be expunged. Convictions for misdemeanors and certain felonies may also be expunged if you are a first time offender, there are no pending charges, the individual has completed their sentence and probation and paid all fines, and there have been no subsequent arrests for a certain period of time after the conviction. However, each state has different expungement laws, so please contact expungement attorney Thomas V. Alonzo for the specific charges that may be sealed in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Georgia.
Please note that record expungement does not automatically occur once charges are dropped or you complete your criminal sentence. Unless you petition for an expungement, the arrest will still be on your public record and will appear in background checks.
Louisiana Articles 894 and 893
When entering a first time guilty plea to a misdemeanor or certain felonies in Louisiana, you should have a Louisiana criminal defense lawyer like Thomas V. Alonzo enter your plea under article 894 or 893 of the Louisiana Criminal Code so that you will be eligible for expungement.
Defendants charged with misdemeanors, including the following, may be pled under 894 and be eligible for expungement: Assault, resisting arrest, minor possession, public intoxication, lewd conduct, disturbing the peace, prostitution, simple battery, drug possession, and domestic violence. First time felonies can be expunged, under certain conditions, if the judge allows you to plea under article 893. Typically, violent crimes and sex crimes involving a minor cannot be pled under 893.
Criminal defense lawyer Thomas V. Alonzo can help you plea under articles 894 and 893 if you are eligible to do so. If you are unsure of your eligibility or need help filing your motion to expunge, see our Louisiana Articles 893 and 894 blog post or call Mr. Alonzo at (337) 704-2615 for a free consultation.
Mississippi Expungements
In Mississippi, first time offenders can expunge most misdemeanors, with the exception of traffic violations (DUIs). Select felonies may also be expunged including: false pretense, bad check, malicious mischief, larceny, shoplifting, and possession of controlled substances including marijuana and paraphernalia. For more information about misdemeanor expungement and felony expungement in Mississippi, please see:
How to Expunge a Criminal Record
If you are eligible to have your record cleared, you must first complete your sentence, pay all fines, and finish any required classes or community service. You cannot have any pending charges, and there may be a probationary period before you can start the expungement process. After all requirements are fulfilled, expungement lawyer Thomas V. Alonzo will file a petition with the court where your arrest or conviction occurred. If the judge grants your expungement, the court will notify the FBI, the District Attorney’s office, police department and sheriff offices in your city and parish to destroy all documents and information relating to your arrest.
Call expungement lawyer Thomas V. Alonzo at (337) 704-2615 or (601) 944-1980 to see if you are eligible to have your record expunged in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Georgia. All initial consultations are free.