Your criminal defense attorney must consider not only the immediate effects of an potential resolutions to your case, but also the long term effect. When possible, you need to seek a resolution that will keep your record clean

The Negative Consequences of the Information Age

In the old days, a past indiscretion was precisely that:  something in your past.  The internet has changed all that.  Now, your past can be found with a click of a mouse.  Yes, your employer and future employers can do a criminal background check and see your past.  Even more painful, the reality is that your children and grandchildren are going to be see the same thing if you do not keep your background clean.

Seal and Expunge:  The Way to Keep a Clean Record

Fortunately, in many circumstances you may be eligible to have your criminal record sealed or expunged. If your criminal charges were ultimately dismissed or dropped by the prosecutor, then you may be eligible to have your charges expunged. If you pled to your charges but ultimately received a with-hold of adjudication, then you may be eligible to have your charges sealed, and then, ultimately expunged.

Seal and Expunge 101

Expunge – If your Florida record is expunged, then the records from the court and most records maintained by law enforcement will by physically destroyed, although a copy of the file will remain with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (“FDLE”).

Seal – If your Florida record is sealed, then it remains confidential and the public will not have access to the record through any government databases. However, certain government entities, including the police, have certain legal rights to access criminal records that are sealed under certain conditions. If your Florida record is expunged, those same government entities that would have access to a sealed record would be told that a record was “expunged” but would not have access to the contents of the record maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (“FDLE”) without a court order.

In either case, employers will not have access to the information through a background check.

The Charge You Plea to Will Determine if You Can Seal or Expunge

Your tampa expungement attorney must do a preliminary analysis of your potential resolution in any criminal case to determine if you will be eligible to subsequently have your charges sealed and/or expunged.  Only after such an analysis can you determine whether the resolution is in your best interests or not.  The Florida Statutes enumerate a lengthy list of disqualifying offenses.  For example, a DUI conviction cannot be sealed or expunged.  However, a reckless driving charge with adjudication withheld can be expunged.  Be sure that this is properly discussed with your tampa record sealing attorney.

Criminal Record Sealing and Expunge Attorney

If you are interested in seeing if your Criminal Charge can be sealed or expunged, contact the lawyers at Denmon & Denmon at 813-554-3232 (Hillsborough) or 727-753-0049 (Pasco or Pinellas) to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your options. Ask To discuss your case directly with a record sealing attorney.