When people are arrested and convicted of a crime, that record tends to stay with someone well after they have served whatever sentence they were given and paid any fine levied. This record can affect anyone’s effort to find a job or to basically move on in life with a clean slate, even though their debt to society has been paid. Fortunately, there is an option for those who want to provide themselves with the best chance of putting their past in the past – expungement. This is a process that can be technical, which is why anyone who wants to look into this possibility should seek the advice of an Oklahoma City expungement attorney.
OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT – WHO IS ELIGIBLE
The Oklahoma statutes set out several different conditions and situations in which a convicted defendant may have the option of pursuing an expungement. The most common avenue to achieve this goal starts with a sentence from the criminal court that’s deferred. What this means is that if a convicted defendant agrees to a deferred sentence and completes the conditions set forth by the court to avoid jail time, he or she could have the record of the arrest and conviction expunged if those conditions are met. These conditions usually involve the completion of probation, certain courses like anger management and the requirement of not running into any other criminal problems during the deferred sentencing period.
Other possibilities for expungement arise when someone has been convicted of minor offenses like jaywalking or even major, felony offenses where there is an ultimate finding of innocence or a pardon has been issued. Basically, an expungement means that a convicted defendant does not have an entry present on his or her public record, and he or she does not have to admit to being convicted of a crime when that person is applying for a job.
HOW AN OK EXPUNGEMENT ATTORNEY CAN HELP
Expungement in Oklahoma is not simply approved with the passage of time or even with the fulfillment of conditions set out by the court in a deferred sentencing arrangement. The defendant must make a motion to the court to have his or her record expunged, and those who work with an experienced Oklahoma expungement attorney will be able to present their case to the court in a strong, organized and persuasive manner. This motion hearing can be critical for the future of anyone who wants a clean criminal record for any number of reasons.
If you have been convicted of a crime and you’d like to find out if it’s possible to remove that arrest and conviction from your public record, seek the help of Oklahoma expungement lawyers who have been helping clients obtain a new, fresh start for years. Contact AMA Law today to schedule an initial consultation.