Passaic County Expungement Lawyer

Expungement Attorney In Passaic County

Anyone with a criminal background knows the negative impact that the record can have upon their life. Your criminal record prevents you from obtaining higher-paying employment, student loans, and even housing. An expungement of your records may make life easier, as it will permanently remove any reference of you and any associated crimes from the system. After an expungement, no one will be able to see anything from your criminal past. While an expungement is an excellent way to better your future, not everyone is entitled to file for one. New Jersey requires that you meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for an expungement.

Eligibility for Expungement in New Jersey

10 years to have your record expunged

Your eligibility for an expungement depends on your entire criminal record. New Jersey law allows for expungements for anyone who with one prior indictable (felony) conviction and no more than two disorderly persons offenses and one petty disorderly persons offense. This means that if you have more than one felony conviction on two separate occasions, you are not entitled to expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2. However, there may be an exception if you have multiple crimes on one Judgement of Conviction or the crimes are part of the same course of criminal conduct.

In addition to the above, under this section, you must wait ten years from the date of completion of your sentence to file for an expungement. The law also requires you to wait ten years from the date in which you successfully complete probation before filing the petition. All fines and penalties must be paid prior to the filing as well (some exceptions apply). In some cases, you may be able to file a petition for expungement in less than ten years under the expedited provision of the law.

Petition to Expunge in 5 years

You may file for a petition in as little as five years from the date of conviction. In order to be entitled to the expungement in accordance with the statute, you must demonstrate to the court that the expungement is “in the public interest, giving due consideration to the nature of the offense, and the applicant’s character and conduct since conviction. Additionally, you must pay your fines, and satisfactory complete probation or parole, and refrain from obtaining any subsequent convictions.”

Factors Demonstrating that Expungement is “in the Public Interest”

Early expungements are relatively new and as such, there are no strict rules or guidance setting forth what is considered to be “in the public interest.” However, as a general rule, your attorney will argue that you have accomplished many things despite your record. For example, proof of your continued employment, good standing in the community, and continue living a law-abiding life will all serve to illuminate you in a positive light and thereby deserving of an early expungement.

Along those same lines, you may advise the court of your financial obligations and how your earning potential is limited by your criminal record. Financial obligations such as child support would give credence to your need to expunge your records to earn more.

In addition to the above, there is a way to expunge all records, regardless of the number of crimes, in as little as 18 months.

Drug Court Expungement – Removal of All Records

The expungement statute noted above only allows for your records to be wiped clean if you have only one indictable/felony offense. In the majority of cases, a person has multiple convictions occurring on different dates. The law now allows those charged with a crime to take part in the Statewide Drug Court Program. If you successfully complete Drug Court and graduate, you are entitled to an immediate expungement of all of your records.

While those in Drug Court often have many convictions, there are other members of the public that have no convictions but still have their fingerprints in the system.

Pretrial Intervention and dismissals

Pretrial intervention is a diversionary program that will result in a dismissal if successfully completed. You may file for expungement 6 months from the date of successful completion of the program. Similarly, where a charge has been dismissed or you have been found not guilty, you are entitled to an immediate expungement.

Exclusions

Despite the above, not every crime can be expunged. New Jersey law specifically excludes the following from expungement:

• Records of conviction pursuant to repealed statutes for the following offenses: murder, manslaughter, treason, anarchy, kidnapping, rape, forcible sodomy, arson, perjury, false swearing, robbery, embracery, or a conspiracy or attempt to commit those crimes;
• Criminal Homicide.
• Kidnapping
• Luring or Enticing
• Human Trafficking
• Sexual Assault or Aggravated Sexual Assault
• Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact
• Criminal Sexual Contact (if the victim is a minor)
• Criminal Restraint (if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim)
• False Imprisonment
• Robbery pursuant to
• Arson and related offenses under
• Endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct
• Endangering the welfare of a child by filming or photographing a child in a sexual act
• Endangering the welfare of a child by causing to permitting a child to engage in a sexual act
• Endangering the welfare of a child by distributing or using a file-sharing program to store items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child
• Endangering the welfare of a child by possessing items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child
• Perjury
• False Swearing under
• Knowingly promoting prostitution of the actor’s child
• Terrorism pursuant
• Producing or possessing chemical weapons under
• First and second-degree convictions for the sale or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) or possession of CDS with intent to sell; and
• Convictions for conspiracies or attempts to commit any of the above-mentioned offenses are likewise ineligible for expungement.

Expungements of Disorderly Persons Offenses

Disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses in New Jersey are essentially the equivalent of misdemeanor offenses in many other states. They are not considered felony “crimes”, but the record of your arrest and your conviction is still public knowledge on your permanent criminal record.

Thankfully, for those who have been convicted of disorderly persons offenses, there is a way to have the record of your previously indiscretions permanently expunged. A clean criminal record can make a huge difference when seeking employment, applying for loans, and many other situations that may involve a background check.

At The Law Offices of The Montanari Law Group, our criminal defense attorneys believe that for those who qualify, getting an expungement for previous indiscretions is a great way for our clients to put a negative chapter in their lives behind them for good. Our firm takes pride in assisting clients with expunging their public and permanent records across local New Jersey communities including Clifton, Wayne, Little Falls, Paterson, West Milford, Woodland Park, and the greater Passaic County region.

Call our office today for a free and confidential consultation to find out more about the expungement process, whether or not you qualify, and how our firm can best serve your individual needs.

N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3 Expungements for Disorderly Persons Offenses

Expungements for disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses are relatively straightforward affairs for our experienced Paterson attorneys. However, there are a few simple criteria that must be met in order for our clients to qualify. Pursuant to Revised Statutes of New Jersey Section 2C:52-3 – disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses, all of the following must be true to be granted expungement:

• It must be at least five (5) years since your disorderly persons offense. If you are expunging more than one disorderly persons offense, it must be at least five (5) years since the date of the more recent offense.
• The date which begins the five year time period may refer to the date of conviction, payment of associated fine, completion of a period of incarceration, or completion of a period of probation
• You must have at most, two disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses on your criminal record
• You must not have committed any crimes at any time. “Crimes” in this sense refers to felony convictions of the fourth to first degree

Expungement Process in New Jersey

If you or a loved one meets all of the items in the list above, you are likely eligible for a successful expungement of your disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons convictions. Our expungement attorneys have a procedure that we use to not only grant our clients a successful expungement but also double-check that your criminal record has been cleared. When you are ready to proceed, our legal team will take the following steps:

• File a petition for expungement of your disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses in Superior Court
• Send written notice to local, state, and federal law enforcement notifying them that we intend to have your records expunged
• A Superior Court judge will review your petition and decide whether or not to expunge
• When an expungement is granted, our law office will receive a court order from the Superior Court
• Our attorneys will send a copy of the expungement court order to law enforcement
• The record of your previous disorderly persons offenses will be set aside. While they are not destroyed, they will no longer be visible to the public and it will be as if you were never convicted
• When asked, you will be able to legally say you have never been convicted of a crime

Disorderly Persons Expungement Benefits

Some individuals who have been convicted of minor offenses such as marijuana possession, shoplifting, or resisting arrest might wonder if it is even worth the effort to go through the expungement process. While there are certainly individuals and organizations who will be understanding of your youthful indiscretions, the fact remains that any stain on your permanent and public criminal record will continue to show up on any background check for the rest of your life if you fail to take action.

When expungements for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses are available to you, why risk the potential negative impacts on your career, to your financial future, and even in your social life? Consider that if you have or plan to have children, a marijuana possession charge from decades previous could prevent you from being your son or daughter’s tee-ball coach. Rather than let the past linger, allow our Wayne attorneys to clear your record so that you can move on with your life.

Contact our Passaic County NJ Expungement Attorneys to Discuss Your Case

The expungement process can be confusing and cause you to feel uncertain about the potential for filing. We can help. If you or someone you know is entitled to expungement or you have uncertainty about your qualifications to file, contact our firm. We will review your case, determine the likelihood of an expungement, and file a petition on your behalf.

If you have a misdemeanor charge or conviction on your record in New Jersey or New York, it may be possible to have your record expunged. Under recent changes in the law, expungement may now be possible in as few as five years after your charges or conviction. Many people who did not qualify under previous conditions may now get the clean record they need.

Call The Montanari Law Group, to discuss your situation in a free telephone consultation. From offices in Little Falls, our lawyers help people clear their record through expungement in jurisdictions throughout New Jersey. Call us at 888-877-7985 or check our online form to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced Passaic County expungement attorneys today.

Passaic County Expungement Lawyer Reviews

“Michael is knowledgeable, helpful, proactive, and an expert in his field. I had a very specific situation that he was able to expertly navigate and guide me through for the best possible result. I received exactly the outcome I was hoping for and it’s all thanks to the careful guidance and support of Michael and his team. Thank you again Michael!” – Aidan McGourty

“Jayna Patel was a pleasure to work with. Knowing how knowledgeable and experienced she was put me at ease during a very challenging time. She made the process easy and stress free. I would recommend her services to anyone in need of a family lawyer.” – Leyla

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