When we were children, we often heard stories about any misbehavior in school going on our "permanent record." The implication was that even as adults, some minor infraction in first grade would still be on this record and could possibly prevent us from getting a job or going to college. Of course, as we got older we realized that no such record really existed regarding your first grade transgressions. But if you have some more serious things on your record, you might be able to benefit from an El Reno Expungement.
Unfortunately, as adults we understand that if we are arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, it will become a matter of public record. So if an employer, lender, or prospective landlord runs a background check, they will likely discover our prior run-in with the law. In some cases, however, it is possible to expunge your record to remove that information from public view. The El Reno expungement attorneys at Fassio Law are happy to sit down with you and explain this process, and how it may be applicable to your own situation.
Oklahoma's expungement law is somewhat complicated. There are actually two different kinds of expungements. The first, known as a Section 18 expungement, expunges a person's entire arrest record. The second, called a Section 991(c) expungement, does not expunge the arrest record, but rather allows a person who received a deferred criminal sentence to show that their case was dismissed. So while a Section 18 expungement means that your record will not come up in a future criminal background check, that is not the case with a Section 991(c) expungement.
To be clear, expungement does not erase or eliminate your criminal record. An expungement simply seals the record, thus preventing members of the public from accessing the information. In certain situations, however, members of law enforcement may still be able to access the expunged records.
Expungement is also not automatic or a matter of right. First, you must establish that you are authorized by Oklahoma law to file a petition for a Canadian County, El Reno expungement. Some examples of authorized persons include:
Keep in mind, a person convicted of a violent felony in Oklahoma may not be eligible for expungement. And even if a person meets the requirements for expungement, they must still attend a hearing before a judge, at which time the prosecuting attorney may object to the expungement.
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An expungement may not be a magic wand that erases all traces of your arrest or conviction. But it can help you to rebuild your life following an indiscretion that led to legal problems. If you would like to know more about the process from an experienced El Reno expungement attorney, call Fassio Law today at (405) 593-8444 to schedule a free case assessment with a member of our staff.