Expungements

Do you or does someone you know have a criminal record or an arrest record? If so, then you may be eligible for an expungement according to New Jersey law. An Expungement will clean your record and clear your name of any criminal charges or arrests, provided you are eligible. Many landlords, schools, professional licensing organizations and employers run background checks in New Jersey on applicants. Having a clear record is the first step in achieving your goal, whether that is getting a new apartment, a new job, or a license for your profession.

What Is an Expungement?

An expungement is defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 which states:

§ 2C:52-1. Definition of expungement

a. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, expungement shall mean the extraction and isolation of all records on file within any court, detention or correctional facility, law enforcement or criminal justice agency concerning a person’s detection, apprehension, arrest, detention, trial or disposition of an offense within the criminal justice system.

b. Expunged records shall include complaints, warrants, arrests, commitments, processing records, fingerprints, photographs, index cards, “rap sheets” and judicial docket records.

As stated above, an individual may apply for an expungement to “extract and isolate” any and all records related to an arrest, trial, and disposition (or resolution) of the criminal charge. What this means is that the records are not permanently destroyed but they are moved to a special location and they will not be accessed during background checks and similar searches. Expunged records can be accessed by the court if you were to be charged for a crime after your expungement was granted.

Can My Charges Even Be Expunged?

Most types of offenses can be expunged including:

• Indictable Offenses
• Disorderly Persons Offenses and Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses
• Young Drug Offender Convictions
• Robbery
• Kidnapping
• Aggravated Sexual Assault

Contact us today to start the expungement process and get on the way to clearing your name and achieving your goals. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (732) 842-7773 or you may contact us by email.