The criminal justice system can do a number on someone’s life, far beyond when they’re convicted of a crime and might even do years or decades in prison. Long after the prison time is served, those records are usually still made available to potential employers, landlords, and other authority figures who might cause havoc in someone’s life were they to know about the convictions. Thankfully, New Yorkers now have a new lease on life with the possibility of having those criminal convictions sealed and hidden from public view.
Ways Criminal Convictions Adversely Affect Life
A felony conviction is the most serious type of conviction. Say, for example, that someone is convicted of a drug felony. Even 30 years after that conviction, it might still show up as public record. It could affect your voting rights, your right to own a gun, and your right to have employment and a place to live. Landlords often frown on felony convictions and refuse to rent to someone with such a conviction. The “Sealing of Criminal Convictions” law in New York is meant to give new hope to rehabilitated offenders who continue to do well in their lives. Sure, there are procedures you’ll have to go through, but if you have a misdemeanor or felony on your record that is affecting your ability to obtain employment, this law is just what you need to speak to our lawyers about. The consequences of a felony conviction are numerous and far-reaching. It’s absolutely vital that you consider using the Sealing of Criminal Convictions procedure to have a felony sealed. Misdemeanors can also pose a problem and don’t always fall off your record.
Exceptions To 160.59
While some crimes are eligible to be sealed, others are not. Sex offenses and violent crimes are generally are going to stay on your record no matter what, but it doesn’t hurt to talk to an attorney about sealing records just in case your particular offense falls under the umbrella of the Sealing of Criminal Convictions law. There will always be some crimes that courts want to keep on your public record, especially ones that fall under the category of violent offenses, but there are many other felonies and misdemeanors that might be able to be sealed under 160.59. If you’re already suffering in terms of employment and housing because of a criminal conviction, it’s time to talk to one of our attorneys about how to use the Sealing of Criminal Convictions to your advantage.
The General Process For Sealing
First, you must be eligible to have your records sealed. This begins with the process of filing an application for sealing and will need to include a sworn statement from you. Secondly, only two convictions can be sealed. If you have more than that, you are going to have to pick and choose which convictions you want sealed. If you have less than that, you’ll need to apply to have both of them sealed. Our Sealing attorneys are more than capable of taking care of all of these procedures for you so that you don’t have to go through the hassle of reading up on the law or knowing exactly what to do. It’s vital that you select an attorney that has vast experience in this area and knows how to properly get records sealed so that they no longer affect some aspects of your life.
Learn More About Sealing of Criminal Convictions
Criminal convictions can affect many of the most important areas of rehabilitation. In order to have a normal life after a serious criminal conviction, you need housing, employment, and security, all of which can be difficult to obtain if your criminal record keeps showing up in background reports. If you’re having trouble with this area of your past, please contact one of our attorneys today for more information.
