Need Help Cleaning Up Your Criminal Record?
Our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help
Past criminal convictions can have life-altering consequences, affecting your prospects far into the future. Even though you have already learned from a past crime and gotten your life back on track, your criminal record still has the power to affect where you can live, make it difficult to find employment, and hinder your ability to obtain credit, loans, or certain licenses.
Past crimes can create a lifetime of barriers. Thankfully, our nation’s criminal justice system has provided an opportunity for individuals convicted of crimes to clean up their criminal records and free themselves from these obstacles.
Want to learn more about cleaning up your criminal record?
Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation!
At Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners, our Los Angeles criminal attorneys have helped many clients clean up their criminal records using the method best suited to their individual needs. We believe that you should not have to continue to pay for past mistakes, and are prepared to help you complete the legal proceedings necessary to relieve you of the convictions that are holding you back.
Protect Your Future from Past Mistakes
With the help of Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners, individuals can clean up their criminal records through the following methods:
- Expungement: Expungement is the process by which previous criminal convictions can be set aside and the case dismissed. Depending on the circumstances, expungements are available for certain individuals who have been convicted of most misdemeanors and some felonies. While they do not fully eradicate records of your arrest, prosecution, and conviction, an expungement can allow you to state that you have not been convicted of a crime on many types of job applications.
- Probation Modification / Termination:Certain individuals may be able to have their probation terms modified or terminated early. Generally, this is possible when the defendant has completed at least two-thirds to three-fourths of their probation sentence and has met all requirements. Since a defendant cannot be on probation in order to be eligible for an expungement, probation termination can serve as a first step toward getting a conviction censored from their criminal record.
- Reducing Felonies to Misdemeanors: Pursuant to California Proposition 47, passed in November 2014, a number of non-violent and non-serious felony crimes can be reclassified as misdemeanors. This means that individuals charged or convicted of a felony crime which is now a misdemeanor may be eligible for re-sentencing or reduced charges. Crimes that are eligible for resentencing include personal use of illegal drugs as well as various fraud and theft crimes where the stolen property is valued at no more than $950. Another state law may also allow people convicted of certain felonies to have their charges reduced to misdemeanors if the offense is considered a “wobbler,” meaning it can be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Factual Innocence Motion:A factual innocence motion can be filed to help clear a criminal conviction from the record of a person wrongfully accused of a crime. The accused person must be able to prove that there is no reasonable cause to believe that they actually committed the offense that they were charged with. While it may be difficult to achieve success with this type of motion due to the high burden of proof the filer must face, it can result in all records related to the crime being sealed for three years and then destroyed. The best time to file a factual innocence motion is no later than two years after an arrest or accusatory pleading, but later filings may be considered if there is good legal cause.
Call Us Today to Explore Your Options
Your options for cleaning up your criminal record will depend largely on the unique set of circumstances surrounding your particular case. Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners takes pride in offering our clients a personalized approach that is tailored to address their individual needs. We would be happy to discuss the most appropriate method for helping you clean up your record during a free, confidential consultation.
The criminal defense attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Partners have collectively spent decades working in the Los Angeles criminal justice system. Our extensive familiarity and experience with the law and local courts have allowed our team continually strive for the best results possible for our clients. Read more about our many successes by clicking here.
To learn more about cleaning up your criminal record, speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our firm. Contact us today.
