How Do You Expunge An Arrest Record?
The laws vary by state, but arrest records can be expunged on a number of different legal grounds. It’s especially important to make sure a record is expunged if you were never convicted of the crime for which you were arrested. Old arrests can be obtained in criminal background checks when you apply for a job or try to rent an apartment. Often the researchers are unaware of the circumstances or the outcome of the case because records on the court proceedings that followed are not available. Ask the police department (that you had past dealings with) if they still have an incident or arrest report containing your name. Policies for record maintenance vary by department, county and state. If the record is still on file, obtain a copy of the report. Contact the court that handled your criminal matter to see if it has records of the incident. If so, obtain a copy. Contact the state repository for criminal records to check for your arrests or convictions that weren’t listed with the police
