Expungement is the legal process by which a conviction is removed from your criminal record. James F. Bogen, Attorney at Law, in Cincinnati, OH, helps his clients pursue this route and get a second chance at missed opportunities. To give you a better sense of what the process entails, he discusses the subject in more detail.

A Guide to Understanding Expungement

1. The Process

Getting a conviction removed can be an involved and complex process, which is why it is crucial to have a skilled defense attorney working on your case. Together with your lawyer, you must first apply for an expungement. As part of your request, you will likely be asked to provide certain records that verify you meet the eligibility requirements.

2. Requirements

Your criminal case must be completed and closed before you can pursue expungement. Usually, this means that you have served your sentence, satisfactorily completed any probation, and paid any fees as mandated by the courts, including fines or restitution. When all matters surrounding your case have been resolved, it will be noted on your record that the case is closed, at which point the process can move forward.

3. Waiting Periods

The law requires you wait a certain amount of time before applying for an expungement. The span is determined by what type of criminal infraction you were convicted of. A felony conviction, for example, cannot be expunged until three years after the termination of the case, while a misdemeanor only requires one. Other considerations like dismissals, acquittals, and multiple charges all have specific periods; your defense attorney will explain these timelines, and your options, in depth.

If you want to pursue expungement, trust James F. Bogen, Attorney at Law, to guide you through the process. For more than a decade, he has been representing area clients in a variety of criminal law issues, providing quality legal counsel and aggressive representation that gets results. Call (513) 503-7251 or visit the firm online to schedule a free consultation. You can also follow him on Twitter or Google+ for news and updates.