Some people in Missouri get arrested because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even those who insist they are innocent may plead guilty to charges. They often do so out of concern regarding the penalties the courts might impose or the expense involved in a criminal trial.
Others acknowledge that they broke the law and hope to rebuild their lives after paying their debt to society. They serve their sentence and try to move on with their lives. Unfortunately, the criminal record of their prior mistake may prevent them from getting the education they require or securing better employment.
Many people could expand the opportunities available to them by expunging previous criminal records. Who is eligible for an expungement under current Missouri law?
Many people can feel certain criminal records
Missouri has some rules restricting expungements. The most serious felonies that exist, including Class A felonies, violent felony offenses and felony charges related to someone dying, are not eligible for expungement. There are a few other specific types of felony offenses that may be ineligible as well.
Most common felonies and misdemeanors are eligible for expungement if people follow the right process. They have to complete their sentence, pay their fines and complete probation before they are eligible to petition the courts for expungement. After people fulfill their burden to society, they may be eligible for expungement.
They can file a petition with the courts. That petition requires that they pay a fee and provide a list of all of the eligible offenses that they hope to remove from their permanent record. A judge reviews the situation and makes sure that they meet all of the necessary requirements.
Those hoping to expunge a felony typically need to wait three years to be eligible to expunge the offense. Those hoping to remove the record of a misdemeanor offense could be eligible for expungement after as little as one year. The expungement process can be somewhat difficult to manage without assistance.
Reaching out for support during the expungement process can help eligible people seal their criminal records quickly and avoid mistakes that could complicate their attempts to expunge prior offenses. A successful expungement can open someone up to many opportunities in life, including new jobs and educational prospects.