Many Floridians believe that if they were arrested for an alleged crime but not found guilty or the charges were dropped, they have no criminal record. Sadly, however, that’s not the case. Anyone who has been arrested or even received a summons involving a crime has a record. That record is public, which means that it can be viewed by potential employers or anyone else who investigates your past. A record involving certain kinds of crimes, such as those related to drugs, can be particularly detrimental to your future even if the charges were dropped.
At Mike G. Law, we may be able to get your Florida criminal record expunged or have it sealed if you meet certain legal requirements. For example, if no charges resulted from a summons, the charges against you were dropped or your case was dismissed, you may qualify for an expungement. However, you must not have any other criminal record, either from before or after the record you are seeking to have expunged.
Before the expungement process can take place, you must have your record sealed. There is a difference between having your record sealed and having it expunged. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, some government entities can still access a sealed record. However, if it expunged, those entities would not be able to see the record unless they obtain a court order. They would, however, see a statement that "Criminal Information has been Expunged from this Record."
If you believe that you may qualify to have your criminal record sealed or expunged, call or contact us online. We offer a free consultation to help clients determine whether these are viable options that can help them move forward with their lives.