An expungement is a court order that seals your criminal record so that it is no longer available to the public. It essentially clears any record of your arrest or prosecution.
There are two ways to expunge your criminal record in Oklahoma: You may either seal only your name from court records, under Title 22 O.S. § 991c; or seal your name from court records and erase your criminal history with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, under Title 22 O.S. §18. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. Contact a knowledgeable Oklahoma criminal defense attorney for more information.
Offenses eligible for expungement in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the following offenses may be expunged from your criminal record:
- Juvenile offenses – if you were convicted when you were under eighteen and you have since been granted a full pardon for the offense.
- Non-violent felony offenses – if your crime was non-violent (as defined by Oklahoma criminal statutes), you have received a pardon after 10 years without committing any further crimes and 15 years have passed since any misdemeanor convictions.
- Misdemeanors – if you have never been convicted of a felony, are not facing any current criminal charges and after 10 years you have not been convicted of any additional criminal activity.
- Deferred judgements in non-violent felony offenses – 10 years after successful completion of the terms and conditions of your deferred judgement, if you have never been convicted of any other misdemeanor or felony offenses and no other charges are pending.
- Deferred judgements in misdemeanor offenses – one year after successful completion of the terms and conditions of your deferred judgement, if you have not been convicted of any other misdemeanor or felony offenses and no other charges are pending.
Offenses not eligible for expungement in Oklahoma
Not all crimes, however, are eligible for expungement in Oklahoma; in particular the following types of offenses may not be expunged:
- Violent felonies.
- Sex offenses that require compliance under the Oklahoma Sex Offender Registration Act.
Are you eligible for expungement Oklahoma?
Not all offenses are eligible for expungement in Oklahoma, likewise not all persons are eligible to expunge their criminal record in Oklahoma. You might be eligible to expunge your criminal record in Oklahoma if:
- You have successfully completed the terms of a suspended or deferred sentence.
- You were convicted when you were a juvenile.
- You were convicted of a misdemeanor or non-violent felony and you meet certain eligibility requirements.
You are most likely to be eligible for expungement if:
- You have been acquitted of the charges brought against you.
- You were arrested but never eventually charged with a crime.
- Your conviction was overturned or you received a pardon.
- Someone else committed a crime using your name.
Free Consultation: Tulsa Expungement Attorney
If you believe that you are eligible for expungement of a non-violent felony, misdemeanor, crime committed as a juvenile or a suspended sentence, you should consult with an Oklahoma expungement lawyer to have your case evaluated.
The criminal defense attorneys at Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm represent clients in applying for expungement. See Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm’s Expungement page for additional information or call a Tulsa Expungement Attorney at (918) 256-3400 for a free, no-hassle confidential consultation.
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