Many people in Missouri have made mistakes that resulted in criminal charges. Upon their conviction, they completed their punishment as required by law and want nothing more than to put their past behind them and continue with their lives. Unfortunately, without seeking an expungement, many people may struggle to do so.
In fact, many people who have been convicted of a crime have found that record of their conviction can be prohibitive years later. Often, questions regarding criminal history arise as part of the job interview or loan application process, often preventing success. Many people have found that, even a conviction of a minor misdemeanor can cost them their dream job or home years later. However, those who were convicted of a misdemeanor and some felonies — such as non-sexual and non-violent crimes — could now qualify for expungement.
In some cases, a person might be arrested but no criminal charges filed due to insufficient evidence that a crime occurred, among other reasons. Unfortunately, a person could still face future consequences because the arrest appears on his or her record. Like records regarding convictions of certain crimes, arrest records can also be expunged.
Because of the potential positive impacts of expungement, many people choose to seek this path with the assistance of an experienced attorney. At The Law Office of Gregory N. Smith, we firmly believe that those who paid the price of a criminal conviction in Missouri should be able to move on with their lives. An initial consultation with a skilled attorney could be the first step to a future not controlled by past mistakes.