How to Clean Your Criminal Record in Orange County

What is a criminal record?

A criminal record is stored information that contains a list of an individual's convictions and arrests. Criminal records are important because they provide authorities the ability to use this information for multiple reasons, including identification, and criminal investigation.

Do You Have Past Arrests or Convictions You Want to Clean?

While you may have moved on from a criminal conviction in your past, your criminal record hasn't. In fact, even if you were simply arrested and never charged with or convicted of a crime, you will have that arrest report on the record. Unfortunately, your record is not something that simply clears itself with the passage of time. Rather, you need to take deliberate action and erase your criminal past through a process known as expungement.

How to clean your record?

There are certain steps that you need to take in order to clean your criminal record. Firstly, you could correct any errors that are stated on your criminal record. Secondly, you could reduce your felony convictions to misdemeanors. Thirdly, you will need to file for expungement. We will talk more about what expungement is and how to go about it below.

What Does It Mean to Have Your Record Expunged?

Having a criminal record expunged "seals" a conviction and hides the records of the arrest from public eye. While an expungement does not destroy records, it does isolate them, and prevents them from being disclosed under most circumstances. One main benefit of having your record expunged is that you can legally state you have no conviction for that particular criminal offense when asked about your record.

There are some exceptions to this rule, including if you are applying to a law enforcement agency or a city, county, or state public office or job.

How To Get Criminal Record Expunged In California

The first thins that you have to do is obtain a copy of your criminal record. After that, you have to check whether or not your charges qualify for expungement. In the state of California, the only charges that qualify are those that could be considered "misdemeanors." The next step that you have to take to get your criminal record expunged is to file a petition.