The road from incarceration back to civilian life is long and difficult. Understanding the details required and the complexities of the legal system adds challenges to an already intimidating and frustrating process. At Three Rivers Legal Services (TRLS), we aim to help individuals navigate the complicated process of sealing and expunging felony or misdemeanor records in order to remove the barriers and stigma surrounding the charges and offer a fresh start.
Navigating Seal and Expunge Changes
The purpose of seal and expunge laws are to hide or destroy felony and misdemeanor records from the public record. Because Florida offers public criminal records, felony and misdemeanor charges can create barriers for employment and housing. To seal a record removes the record from public view. While expungement results in the total deletion of the record. Once sealed or expunged, the record no longer appears on most background checks.
In Florida, any arrest creates a record which remains intact unless sealed or expunged. This includes mistakes made by law enforcement, like the arrest of the wrong person. To remove the criminal record, you must file a request, even in these cases.
Major changes to the seal and expunge statutes took effect in October 2019. The biggest change is the addition of an administrative sealing process by the Clerk of Court and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for cases where charges were not filed or charges were dropped or dismissed before trial.
The number of administrative sealings per person are unlimited for records that meet these criteria. Outside of these criteria, there is only one occurrence of sealing or expunging allowed per person. Administrative sealings do not count toward the “once in a lifetime” opportunity.
New Beginnings for the New Year
Are you constrained by the limitations of a criminal record? Are you curious if you qualify for sealing or expungement of your record? Start the new year off with a plan to tackle these challenging issues. At TRLS, we’re here to help clients navigate the complex process for the sealing or expunging of criminal records and offer free representation if you are eligible.
Contact us today to make an appointment to talk with one of our attorneys about restoring your rights.
