Digging into Your Criminal Record and Legal Information
Learning how to expunge your record and get your rights restored isn’t as straightforward as you may think. Every state has a unique process, and the legal information you find online will vary based on the writer’s expertise. That is why we at The Felon’s Guide provide an overview of different legal topics like felony expungement, restoration of rights, gun ownership, voting, and more.
Our goal is to give you foundational knowledge so you’ll be well-equipped to ask specific questions about your case when you contact your local civil rights or restoration lawyer.
If you have a question about civil rights, how felony and criminal record expungement happens, or other related topics, please leave a comment below any of these articles.
RECENT POSTS: LAW & FELONY RECORDS
What’s the Difference Between a Misdemeanor vs. a Felony?
Crimes in the United States are separated into three categories: infractions, misdemeanors, and felony convictions. The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is the seriousness of the crime and incarceration length. Misdemeanor offenses typically include a prison sentence of a year or less. A felony may be longer than
What is a Felony Conviction in the United States?
The land of the free is suffering from a mass incarceration problem. There are more than 240 million convicted felons in the United States of America doing everything they can to get by with a job, housing, and life. Many never learn what is a felony conviction compared to other
Understanding Expungement and Restoration of Rights
Why do we focus at all on legal information concerning your criminal record? First off, we should mention that our team at The Felon’s Guide is not a legal authority. We cannot, by law, offer any kind of legal advice to you or your unique situation.
That being said, we can speak based on our personal experiences. There are so many instances where felony expungement and the restoration of your rights can dramatically and positively affect the rest of your life.
Why Expunge Your Criminal Convictions?
Expunge criminal record procedures will vary based on the convicting state where your case was heard. The basic idea behind how to expunge your record is:
- Check if your state allows expungement
- Verify your eligibility (off paper)
- File a petition with the court
- Follow any interview/investigation procedures
- Wait for a response
In some states, you must have a legal counsel or expungement attorney working for you. In others, a police officer specializing in adult probation will check out your case to determine whether or not you qualify.
We should be very clear – if you can get your criminal conviction expunged, you should! This removes the record of your crime from public information so you can find jobs, a place to live, and begin rebuilding your life.
What About the Restoration of Rights?
Restoration of rights, usually post-expungement, is a little different. This isn’t just sealing your record, so it isn’t searchable anymore. When you get civil rights restored, you will be able to enjoy many of the benefits the general public receives.
For starters, you can vote. Not all states allow felons to vote. While some have made leaps and bounds on felon disenfranchisement, restoring your ability to have a voice that counts during voting is crucial to rehabilitation.
Gun ownership is another hot topic. Most of the legal information around gun ownership as a felon is pretty clear-cut, but there are subtle nuances like what types of weapons you can have, what about your partner/roommates, and other topics.
When your record is expunged, and your criminal record is no longer a factor. Your rights open up doors to professional licensing in popular career paths like education, healthcare, real estate, and anything else with an in-depth background check.
Final Thoughts
Being a felon or someone with any criminal record sucks. There is no way around it. However, if you get the chance to expunge your felony or clean up your criminal convictions, it will cultivate a pathway toward many more opportunities that could make life much easier.
These articles provide more comprehensive answers to many of the questions about expungement and other legal information concerning felonies. Be sure to shoot us a message if you have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future.