Expungement
"Expungement" is a legal procedure through which, under certain circumstances, the fact that you have been arrested and charged with a crime can be
removed from your criminal record.
Once an expungement is granted by the court, all records of your case are destroyed,
and you are no longer required to acknowledge the charge when filling out job applications,
looking for housing, etc. By law, these records cannot be used against you
for any purpose. If you were found "not guilty" at trial, your case
was dismissed, or you were "no billed" by a grand jury, Texas state law
MAY allow YOU to clear your criminal history! Also, you may be entitled to
an expungement if you successfully completed deferred adjudication on a class "C"
misdemeanor offense (e.g., simple assault, public intoxication, issuance of bad
check, disorderly conduct, etc).
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW...
Even if your criminal case has been dismissed (or you have been acquitted at trial),
ANYONE who checks your criminal history will see that you have been charged with
a crime! Potential employers can easily access this information.
When you are arrested, numerous city, state, and federal agencies retain this information,
regardless of the outcome of your case. These agencies may include District Attorneys,
Police Departments, Sheriff's Offices, Bond Desks, County Jails, Texas Department
of Public Safety, and the FBI.
Interested in an expungement?
CLICK HERE...
*Each petition for expungement must be judged on its own merit. The
judge will consider a number of factors when determining whether to grant any such
request. Under Texas law, an expungement cannot be obtained on an offense for which
you have been convicted.