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A felony is a serious crime in the US, with common misdemeanors including robbery, assault, drug possession, and drunk driving. A criminal record can hinder employment, adoption, and loans. Expunging a record varies by jurisdiction and crime type. Felons must meet requirements to expunge their record, including a waiting period and no additional offenses. Legal advice is recommended. Pardons from governors or presidents are available in some cases. Canada is more lenient in pardoning prisoners who have proven themselves good citizens.
In the United States, a felony is a serious criminal act punishable by more than one year in prison. Common misdemeanor convictions stem from robbery, assault, drug possession, and drunk driving. Once someone has been convicted, the crime usually remains on the person’s record unless the conviction is expunged or the person receives a pardon. The requirements for expunging a criminal record vary by country and jurisdiction, although some crimes generally do not qualify for a pardon.
A criminal record can be a serious obstacle to employment, adoption, or securing a loan. Most background checks performed on convicted felons will reveal the arrest and conviction. Criminals often end up confined to menial jobs with limited options for advancement. In the United States, people with criminal records usually have restrictions on firearm ownership and may be limited in their choice of residence. A criminal should consult with his lawyer about the possibility of getting the crime expunged from his criminal record once his time has been served.
Jurisdictions have different laws governing the elimination of a criminal offense. Most US states limit the type of crimes that can be solved or sealed. Serious crimes such as murder, rape and crimes involving children are generally not eliminated. In many states, juvenile records are automatically sealed, but some also allow for the removal of juvenile convictions from the record.
Most people convicted of a felony in the United States will need to meet certain requirements before the state will consider expunging their criminal record. Typically, an applicant for expunging a criminal offense cannot have been convicted of another offense in the time following the original conviction and must have fulfilled the terms of his sentence by completing a prison sentence and/or paying any fines or damages. Applicants typically have to go through a waiting period of several years to be eligible. The state may look at a person’s age and whether the offense in question was a first offense.
Individuals wishing to clear their criminal record should carefully research the laws of the jurisdiction in which they were convicted and ensure they meet all requirements before petitioning the court. In some states, you can petition online; in others the criminal may wish to hire a lawyer to represent him during the trial. Expert legal advice can make all the difference when trying to have a conviction removed.
In states that do not allow criminal record purging, a person convicted of a felony can seek a pardon from the governor or the Pardon and Probation Commission. The option for people convicted of a federal crime is to receive a pardon from the president. While rare, such pardons are occasionally granted. Some countries, such as Canada, are more lenient in pardoning prisoners who have proved themselves good citizens in the years following their conviction.
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