Beginning on January 1st of this year, Missouri’s Expungement Laws were changed to allow for the expansion of crimes eligible for expungement. Expunging an arrest or conviction effectively “erases” a criminal record which is important in helping a person pick up the pieces and move forward in life.
The biggest problem that many people have regarding a past arrest or conviction is that continues to show up on background checks. Convictions and arrests, even for minor charges, can make life difficult and prevent you from getting a job or an apartment. In some cases, a conviction or arrest can interfere with your ability to get into college and qualify for a loan.
Under Missouri’s expanded expungement laws, individuals with certain criminal convictions — including most drug-related offenses — can petition to have a conviction expunged and removed from their record.
Even a situation where a person is arrested but is not charged with a crime can negatively affect their life. Unfortunately, even if a prosecutor does not believe there is probable cause that a crime was committed, the arrest record remains. Unless a person obtains an expungement of the arrest, this arrest can continue to cause problems throughout his or her life.
If you were previously convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime, it’s important to work with a criminal defense attorney like me, Bert Fulk, to find out if you are eligible for expungement.
Call me at 636-946-0960 or email me at [email protected] today to schedule a free expungement consultation!