Anyone who has ever been arrested for any reason has a criminal record staining their reputation. If you were arrested and charged with an offense, your criminal record is public information that anyone can access by making a trip to the courthouse or reviewing court records online. Whether you were guilty or innocent, or somewhere in between, the Clerk of Courts maintains all the documents and records associated with your arrest and makes them available to anyone who cares to look. If you are eligible to have your records sealed and/or expunged in Florida, you are urged to do so.
Florida is one of a few states that allow some people to “expunge” or clear their criminal past should they meet certain criteria. Significant benefits accompany a successful record sealing and expungement. Above all, your criminal history will no longer be visible to anyone who runs a background check on you for any purpose. Speak with a qualified criminal defense lawyer to learn more.
Expunging Your Record Expands Employment Opportunities
One of the most important benefits of expunging a criminal record is that it will make your encounters with law enforcement invisible to hiring managers. Over 80% of employers in the U.S. run criminal background checks on potential hires. The vast majority of them will not look deeper into your criminal record to learn the facts of your case; thus, even if you were never convicted for a crime, prospective employers will look past your application in lieu of those that do not reveal criminal activity.
Expungement Can Keep a Roof Over Your Head
Like employers, the majority of landlords also run thorough background checks to ensure the tenants they accept do not pose a threat to their other tenants or become a liability. If you must rent a place to live, you will find tough competition from others who seek a home who have no record. Landlords, like employers, will favor housing applicants with a clean background because on paper they will be less likely to make trouble down the road.
Have your Second Amendment Rights Restored
In some cases, it may be possible to restore your Second Amendment rights following a record sealing or expungement. Your gun rights may have been taken away following charges for a misdemeanor domestic violence crime; with a West Palm Beach gun rights lawyer on your side, it may be possible to win them back. People who were convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors or any felonies may not regain their gun rights.
Sealing and expunging your criminal record essentially erases that record. A sealed record is one that is removed from the public light. It cannot be accessed by just anyone; however, an expunged record requires agencies to destroy physical copies of your records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement may reveal the existence of an expunged record to the following parties only when an individual applies for employment or a professional license:
- Any law enforcement agency
- The Department of Juvenile Justice
- A contractor dealing with children
- The Department of Education
- Any public or private school
- The Florida Bar
For more information about sealing and expunging your criminal record, speak with attorney Brian Gabriel of The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel. He has over 30 years of experience helping defendants fight for a brighter future, walking many of these clients through the process of record sealing and expungement. Call 561-622-5575 today for a free consultation. You may also contact Mr. Gabriel online.