Tulsa criminal defense lawyer

Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm

How Will Having My Tulsa County Conviction Expunged Help Me?

How will having a Tulsa County conviction expungement help me attorneyRegain peace of mind and move on with your life. Oklahoma has recently made it much easier to get criminal record expungement for nonviolent crimes.

If have a conviction on your record — whether for a misdemeanor or a felony — this question on job and rental applications, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” can haunt you long after you have paid your debt to society. Expungement can help.

Many employers these days require a background check. Many job applications ask you outright if you have been convicted of any crime. An affirmative answer often will mean automatic rejection. A good-paying job is a fundamental building block to security, prosperity, and peace of mind.

Now imagine saying “no” and having that answer reflect your criminal history on record. An expungement erases most everything in your criminal records, including your arrest records. It seals the arrest record, court records and online court records. It also erases your criminal history on third party websites, and with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Corrections, and other sources. Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 18

Expunging or sealing your criminal record can be almost like waving a magic wand and undoing your criminal mistake. The right expungement can make it possible to seal every reference to your criminal record.

How to Get A Full Expungement

Not every criminal conviction is eligible for expungement. Only nonviolent crimes may be expunged. And although the Oklahoma legislature recently shortened the waiting time post-conviction to apply for expungement, it can be a tedious and difficult process to obtain one.

It requires a complicated petition that is best handled by an experienced Tulsa expungement attorney.

What Are the Qualifications for Expungement?

In general, misdemeanors and non-violent felonies qualify with differing waiting times post-conviction. Violent felonies will not qualify.

You may also qualify if:

  • you were acquitted,
  • your case was overturned and then dismissed,
  • DNA evidence later exonerated you,
  • you received a full pardon based on innocence,
  • you were arrested, but never charged and the time for filing those charges has expired,
  • or you were under 18 years old at the time of the conviction and you have received a full pardon. Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 18

Before the Oklahoma legislature took action to shorten the waiting time, you had to wait 10 years after completion of your felony sentence to begin the process. New legislation has shortened this time to five years in many cases.

Waiting times for other convictions vary. You should check with an experienced attorney to see if your conviction qualifies and if you have waited long enough to apply.

There are other situations in which an expungement may be granted.

Once granted, the expungement seals your criminal records from public viewing. It’s as if the crime never occurred. Once records are sealed, you are free to say nothing about it to employers. In fact, if asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you can lawfully say “no.” Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 19(F)

You can qualify for professional licenses, bonds, security clearances again. Housing is easier to obtain. You may own or operate firearms again. Doors that were once closed, reopen. This allows you to get a fresh start and to move on with your life.

The rules regarding expungement are very technical. You might be eligible for an expungement under these new laws, even if you have been turned down for expungement in the past.

Free Consultation: Tulsa Expungement Attorney

Regain your peace of mind. An experienced Tulsa expungement attorney can help you move on with your life.

Contact the Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm by calling (918) 756-9600 or toll-free at (888) 447-7262.

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