Criminal Record Holding You Back?

Many job applications ask whether you have been convicted of a crime. Sometimes the prospective employer casts an even wider net and asks if you have ever been arrested. It is not uncommon for a person to be arrested for a charge that is later dismissed, or to learn a hard lesson from a conviction. Perhaps you want to move on with your life, but feel like those job application questions are keeping you from getting the sort of job that you want or need. What can be done?

Indiana law allows, under many circumstances, for an arrest, conviction, or adjudication to be expunged from a person’s record. Depending upon the severity of the crime, a petition for expungement can be filed one year, five years, eight years, or ten years after the date of conviction. Once an expungement is granted, the answer to whether you have been arrested or convicted of a crime can honestly be answered “NO”.

While many convictions have implications when filing a job application, other convictions can remove your ability to exercise some right. For example, a felony conviction deprives you of the right to vote in any election. Certain convictions may prevent you from purchasing a firearm or require you to surrender all firearms that you own. The expungement process allows the opportunity for a person to request the reinstatement of those rights and others.
Expungement provides citizens with the opportunity to try to move on with their lives or restore their rights. Do you know someone who may need help with this process? Contact McNeelyLaw LLP and an attorney will help you determine whether you qualify for an expungement.

This McNeelyLaw LLP publication should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion of any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.