Recently Passed Legislation in New Jersey Shortens Wait Times for Expunging Criminal Records

Newark, NJ- A criminal record can be prohibitive on many levels and in many aspects of a person’s life, so some criminal offenders have the option to expunge (clean up) their criminal record, but typically they must wait a long time before they can even begin the process of expungement. That has now changed thanks to new legislation which reduces the time individuals must wait to have their criminal record expunged.

A criminal record can be a barrier for New Jersey residents, making it difficult for them to get a job and rent or buy a house or apartment, own a firearm, receive financial aid for school, join the military, vote and other problems. This is because businesses can access services that allow them to see whether someone has national police clearance or not, as part of the hiring process, or application process when it comes to renting property. As a result of this, it is becoming more and more important that people do everything in their power to avoid getting any kind of criminal record, and if they do , to expunge it as soon as possible. A person with a criminal record also cannot get a job with a federal or state agency and may not be able to obtain certain professional licenses. But fortunately for some individuals, New Jersey has laws that allow them to have their criminal records cleared through expungement.

Now, the barriers of a criminal record can be removed sooner under new legislation signed into law by Governor Chris Christie in January 2016. The new law significantly reduces the time a person must wait to have their criminal record expunged from 10 years to 5 years. New Jersey residents who want to have a disorderly person’s charge cleared from their record can do so in 3 years instead of 5 years.

The new law also allows graduates of drug court to expunge their records as long as they haven’t faced additional charges or a criminal conviction charged.

For someone who wants to get their life back on track, an expungement will remove some of the hurdles associated with a criminal record, but the process is not an easy one. You must first determine if you meet the criteria and then submit the appropriate paperwork, and that is just the beginning. As an experienced criminal defense attorney, I understand how the expungement process works in New Jersey, and can tell you if you are eligible for the process. When you retain me as your expungement lawyer, I can assure you I will take whatever steps I can to ensure you emerge from the process with a clean criminal record.

Your arrest, detention and conviction are sealed if your expungement is approved and becomes information that only federal and state law enforcement officers can view. When you have your criminal record expunged, you can lawfully say that you have not been convicted of a crime on job applications, on professional license applications, in college admissions, and sworn oaths. As far as the public record is concerned, your arrest never occurred.

If you have an arrest or criminal conviction on your record, and it’s holding you back, I can help you decide if having your criminal record expunged is the route to take or if you have other alternatives. You can rely on me to do what is in your best interest. If you would like to see if you qualify for expungement, contact my Newark office at 973-453-2009, and we can make an appointment for a consultation.