If you have been arrested in Alabama and are awaiting trial, or if you have a previous conviction and are considering expungement then you should consider reading further. Being arrested and convicted of either a misdemeanor or felony in Alabama carries both short-term and long-term detrimental effects on a person’s livelihood. Having a criminal record can be a hindrance to many aspects of a person’s life. There are both economic and social consequences to consider.
Short-term effects of a conviction are of course the possibility of imprisonment, fines/restitution, and probation or parole. Long-term effects are more abstract but they can have a real noticeable effect on someone’s ability to function normally. After a conviction or after serving jail time, a person can be limited in their ability to move around freely during the period of probation. With a criminal record, a person is also limited in their ability to enroll in many institutes of higher learning. On a related note, it is also much more difficult in many cases to gain scholarships or grants if a person has a criminal record. Housing opportunities can also be hindered due to some housing/apartment associations limiting residence to those without a criminal record. Alabama law also prohibits people who have been convicted of a violent felony from having the right to buy or possess a firearm. While Alabama law specifically states only violent felons have this restriction Federal law trumps this definition. Under Federal law, anyone convicted of a felony is restricted from their right to own a firearm. On top of this, some misdemeanor charges can lead to the same restrictions. Employment opportunities might be limited and so can admission or retention of professional organizations pertinent to your career.
What Can You Do?
During the legislative session of 2021, Alabama updated its expungement laws. For those that do not know, expungement is the process of destroying or sealing a person’s criminal record. This record is either entirely wiped clean or it is sealed and cannot be accessed. In Alabama, a person’s record can now be expunged of both misdemeanors and some felonies. If a person’s record is expunged then they do not have to disclose the arrest and conviction when asked by an employer for example. It is recommended to contact an attorney with knowledge surrounding expungements because the petition can still be protested by a prosecutor.
Do you want your record expunged?
Contact us now to see if your record can be expunged. Travis Juneau knows how to help. As a trial lawyer, he knows how to properly argue on your behalf. Travis has had hundreds of favorable results for his clients. Contact our offices today to request a consultation.