The legal process of expungement involves having an offense on someone’s criminal record erased, so nobody knows it ever happened. The length of time it takes to be expunged can vary widely. Firstly, it depends on the court system in your state. Depending on how they carry out procedures, expungement could take as little as a few days - but it could also take months. Secondly, it depends upon the crime. Of course, more serious crimes including sexual assault and those involving victims under the age of eighteen can never be expunged. Other crimes, for instance petty theft, may have time limits. Certain crimes require a year to have passed by before the procedure of expungement can begin. Other conditions may also need to have been met; offenders may have to attend courses or complete community service to have their records expunged.
Most commonly, it is first time offenders who successfully have their criminal records expunged - and only if the crime wasn’t too serious. A legal court will grant an expungement if it believes the offender would never consider carrying out the crime again. This allows the individual to start with a clean sheet, which in many cases encourages them to improve their behavior for good. If somebody believes opportunities will always be closed to them because of a crime they committed, they may not try to change. Expunging someone’s criminal record can incentivize them to become contributing a member of the community. They will be without the feeling that their one-off crime will follow them for the rest of their lives. Although some believe this is wrong, because criminal actions should have permanent consequences, there is a lot of evidence to suggest expungement is a successful way in which to deter low-level offenders from practicing criminal behavior again.
Most commonly, it is first time offenders who successfully have their criminal records expunged - and only if the crime wasn’t too serious. A legal court will grant an expungement if it believes the offender would never consider carrying out the crime again. This allows the individual to start with a clean sheet, which in many cases encourages them to improve their behavior for good. If somebody believes opportunities will always be closed to them because of a crime they committed, they may not try to change. Expunging someone’s criminal record can incentivize them to become contributing a member of the community. They will be without the feeling that their one-off crime will follow them for the rest of their lives. Although some believe this is wrong, because criminal actions should have permanent consequences, there is a lot of evidence to suggest expungement is a successful way in which to deter low-level offenders from practicing criminal behavior again.
