Memphis residents who have a criminal record know how hard life can be with that kind of baggage. It can be next to impossible to find a good job, and a personal and professional reputation can be ruined with other long-term consequences and penalties. An expungement can help a person with a criminal record.
An expungement is a legal process where someone who has a criminal conviction can have their record erased. When a record is expunged the public, including employers, will not see it on a person’s record. This can be very helpful for those who are searching for a good job. In Louisiana, arrest records for most local ordinances, misdemeanors and felonies, if they did not lead to a conviction, can be expunged. A misdemeanor can be expunged if the time limit from the beginning the prosecution of the crime has run out or prosecution began but was then ended by dismissal. A felony can be expunged if there was no conviction and the time limit for beginning the prosecution of the crime has run out or prosecution began but then ended because of a dismissal or acquittal. Usually a record that has a conviction is not able to be expunged.
A person can apply for an expungement immediately if their case was acquitted. Otherwise, they can apply for an expungement after the time limit for prosecution has run out. This time limit varies by the crime and ranges from no time limit to six months.
People who have been arrested for a crime can have a hard time finding a job because of their criminal record. An expungement of a criminal record can help these people resume a normal life within society.
Source: Findlaw.com, “Expungement basics“, accessed on Sept. 22, 2014
