When your criminal past comes back to haunt you, especially in the pursuit of new employment or educational opportunities, your best defenses are record sealing and expungement. Record sealing and expungement are two vital services offered by The Rickman Law Firm, a criminal defense law firm in Tampa, to help our clients eliminate the burden of their prior convictions so they can control their future.
In part one of this two-part series, a criminal defense lawyer in Tampa introduced the topic of record sealing and expungement, focusing on the crimes that can’t be redacted and the positive effect it can have on your employment prospects — but that’s only the beginning. The benefits of a clean record are plentiful and numerous, as you will learn in this section.
Prior convictions can limit your potential by barring you from being accepted into certain organizations and institutions, including graduate school. If you want to immerse yourself in advanced academia, a prior felony or misdemeanor arrest on your record could prevent you from pursuing your dreams. Record sealing and expungement can help you bypass the university screening process to earn your doctorate.
Background checks are commonly conducted by landlords to see if the applicant is a safe bet for renting. Whether you’re looking for a house in the suburbs, a loft overlooking the ocean, or a sprawling condominium in the city, a criminal record can make it difficult to procure the keys to your preferred residence. If you’re looking to purchase a home, not rent one, your criminal record could cause loan rates to skyrocket placing the home firmly outside of your price range. The cost to expunge your records could greatly offset the cost of your dream home or the burden of living in an undesirable rental.
Your criminal past is behind you, which means it’s time to move forward with your life and embrace a positive lifestyle. You might be interested in donating some of your time to volunteer with organizations like the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America or the Boys & Girls Club of America to help improve your community, but this can be difficult without a clean record. Expungement is one of the best solutions for helping you reestablish your right to volunteer with philanthropic organizations.
Don’t let a scuff on your record prevent you from living the life you want to live. Consult an attorney from our criminal defense law firm in Tampa for assistance with record sealing and expungement.
For a free consultation with a criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.