I wanted to start a new thread. My question is does anyone know if it is possible to have your criminal record sealed?? I think I may have heard this somewhere, I am not sure... I guess I could reseach it and think I should, but I always get great info on this board every time I post a question.

Anyone????

less serious records can be removed such as juvenile. One of the reasons to do it is some jobs can require a waiver to have sealed records opened. In Texas there are attorneys who advertise that they can clear state records with good bebaviour and and testimony from Mr Green. Of course not so much the really serious and multiple offenses. If I understand correctly FBI records are another story. It would likely take an attorney interested in that area to give accurate advice.
john

I'd sure like to have mine sealed!! When you find out, let me know please! Thanks!

leecee. I know in Canada when I got my pardon for my four charges they were automatically sealed with the pardon.

Its a form you fill out with a thumb print and copy off your criminal record. Takes about six month, three years after the last conviction date.

I never looked any of this up, this is just the top of my head. I wanted to do it for my self when the police pull you over and do a check. That does not keep popping up ever time. or like what you were saying with your employer.

This was many years ago for me, so thing may have changed a little I dint have time to double check everything I post, but it gives you something to think about and remodel.

alan.

Do some google research on it for your state.
Often getting the right lawyer for the right job works the best. Someone who knows there stuff and has the connectons in one area often knows little about areas they don't like to work in alot. Small records go away everyday in Texas for small things, like getting caught with a personal bag of weed while in late teens and 20's, lifting something stupid at the big retail store,
or hitting someone who had it coming without really hurting them. Finding the facts could put your mind at ease, and phone consulations are usually free.
john

I don't fully understand what you mean when you say "sealed"?

As far as I know (for the UK at least) after a certain amount of time somethings do get "wiped" from your record.
For example if you are aged over 40, and you committed a petty crime over 20 years ago (such as graffiti-ing or small value shoplifting) then the item is "deleted" from your record.

The system is called weeding - and it is the responsibility of each individual police force as they are deemed to be the owners of the criminal record information

It does not apply in all cases, and each case is definitley indiviual to it's own circumstances. For instance - in the above example it would depend on whether or not you are a prolific offender or if this crime over 20 years ago is your only offence.

Best way to find out would either be to
speak to a solicitor or to search the net for your own state/county legislation.

__________________

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box

The "sealing" or "expungement" of criminal records is generally not possible in MOST circumstances, especially if the case has been adjudicated without petition to the court for such action to follow completion of court-mandated sentencing. It is, however, possible in SOME circumstances.

Whether or not a record can be "sealed" or "expunged" and HOW it might be done will be a matter of State law (in the U.S.). Only a well qualified attorney could reasonably handle something like this.

It should also be noted that "sealing" a record is not the same as an "expungement" of a record.

"I don't fully understand what you mean when you say "sealed"? "

Juvenile records in the USA cannot looked at by strangers with the permission of the person who the record is about. That is what the "sealed" means. But for some sensitive jobs, the applicant can be told, sign a waiver we are looking at your records. A lawyer can go to a judge and have state records "expunged" But FBI juvenile records remain, and I can't remember how many decades
the FBI can keep them or know if the law has changed since the 70's. Somewhat ironic, in that for some high end jobs, juvenile deliquent aptitudes could be critical for success.
john

Again don't quote me on anything. Sealed means that someone would have to get a court order to find out what you have been convicted off. Including police.

Sealed also means when someone like an employer check to see if you got a criminal record nothing comes up. clean. not even that something has been sealed.

when the police do a check to see if there are any pass criminal activity from thee cruiser, nothing comes up. clean.

It also means if your charged with the same offence, that you were once convicted of and received a pardon, that you would receive first office sentence if convicted. plus weeding or three years from the last conviction some charges like "Impaired driving." without the pardon would be first offence sentences.

It work to your advantage to remove anything as soon as possible from your record. My lawyer charged me 100 dollars about ten years ago. He also said he doesn't understand why I don't just fill out the form myself that it is easy. " post office " This is not related to employment. topic.

as for something hanging over your head for twenty years. I think I you dig a little deeper you will find a better answer that that. I know your from the UK, but there just as modern as Canada, and the US.
" Exception some states Texas "

Anyway I would love to bull s--t but I got to get ready for the football game.

Criminal records in the UK are protected by the Data Protection Law, and if any one wants details of a criminal record (other than a police employee) then they have to go through process and fill in the appropriate form via the Data protection office for each police force. They have to have a good reason to be allowed to get the details, they are not released to just anyone. And it is quite a thorough and drawn out process.

As for getting them actually "sealed" so that no-one can look at them at all, i think it is probably in exceptional cases, depending on the circumstances, and i don't know much about that side of it at all.
:-)

__________________

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box