Harris County Criminal Record Expunction
Houston Expunction / Expungement / Record Sealing Attorney James Sullivan helps people get their criminal and juvenile records expunged so that they can get good jobs, go to good colleges or join the military. The process of criminal record expungement involves filing a civil lawsuit against agencies maintaining your criminal records. The lawsuit seeks to clear your record of the state criminal charges listed in the lawsuit. If the civil district court judge signs the expungement order, any agency which maintains your listed criminal record will be ordered to destroy it. Note: A criminal record can only be ordered expunged in a few situations, including:
- You were found not guilty at trial,
- a grand jury no bills (dismisses) your felony case,
- the prosecutor drops charges before going to trial,
- a judge dismissed your case before going to trial,
- your conviction was overturned on appeal, and
- your case was dismissed after successfully completing a Pretrial Diversion program.
Expungement is much better than non-disclosure (record sealing). When a judge orders a criminal record to be non-disclosed (i.e. sealed), that means that your criminal record will not be accessible by the general public, however the criminal charges still remain on your record. Expungement wipes those criminal records clean. That means that if the police pull you over for a driving violation, then they will not know about your prior criminal record and therefore will not treat you differently.
If you are being negatively affected by criminal records, your best option may be expungement.
Call the law offices of James Sullivan and Associates at 281-546-6428 for a free consultation to discuss your criminal case and explain the legal process.
Houston criminal defense attorneys James Sullivan and Associates have over 65 combined years of experience practicing Texas criminal law as defense lawyers. They will evaluate your case, and if you qualify for an expungement, they will fight hard to clear your good name.
A Pretrial Diversion program can also help keep your record clean. James Sullivan fights hard to make sure that participation in a pretrial diversion program is an option for almost all of his clients who are charged as first-time misdemeanor offenders. When you successfully complete a diversion program, then your charges are dismissed and you can then file to have the charge expunged from your record.
Houston expungement lawyer James Sullivan represents clients in criminal courts throughout the state of Texas. If you want experienced criminal lawyers to protect your legal rights and safeguard your future, call attorneys James Sullivan and Associates at 281-546-6428.
Our Houston criminal lawyers defend clients charged with crimes in district courts and county criminal courts, including domestic violence (assault of a family member), drug possession or drug delivery, violent crimes, and juvenile delinquency.