What is criminal record sealing and expungement?
Most people don’t realize that if you were arrested and never formally charged or even if your case was dismissed or you were found not guilty, the record of your arrest and court case still exists. This is your non-judicial and judicial criminal record. This is a PUBLIC RECORD. Contrary to popular belief, a criminal record is not automatically sealed or goes away over time. It remains public and permanent until ordered sealed or expunged by a judge. In today’s world, criminal background checks are common when applying for jobs, schools, housing (apts, condos, community associations), loans, grants, special licenses, getting promotions, security clearances, in personal relationships, and any other times when a person’s criminal background is an issue. If you qualify for sealing or expungement of your criminal record, and the court grants your petition, you no longer have to worry that one mistake you made or thing you were wrongly accused of will follow you around forever. Florida law
