An expungement is a method you can use to remove offenses from your record. This can be extremely helpful when it comes to applying for college, teaching positions or other careers where a person’s criminal record can become a barrier to hiring or admissions.
In North Carolina, an expunction , if granted, destroys the criminal record by court order. An expunction legally returns a person to the status he or she occupied before the criminal record existed. There are some exceptions – such as immigration laws – but normally if a criminal offense is expunged then a person may truthfully and without committing perjury or false statement deny or refuse to acknowledge that the criminal incident occurred.
Many people are not aware of their right to expunge a charge or conviction. Here is a list of those offenses that can be expunged:
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- Juvenile Record………………………………… NCGS §7B-3200
- Misdemeanor Under Age 18…………………… NCGS §15A-145
- Gang Offense Under Age 18…………………… NCGS §15A-145.1
- Controlled Substance Under Age 22 …………… NCGS §15A-145.2
- Toxic Vapors Under Age 22………………………. NCGS §15A-145.3
- Nonviolent Felony Under Age 18……….……… NCGS §15A-145.4
- Nonviolent Offense……………………………… NCGS §15A-145.5
- Prostitution Offense……………………………… NCGS §15A-145.6
- Charge Resulting in Dismissal or Not Guilty ….. NCGS §15A-146
- Identity Theft……………………………………. NCGS §15A-147
- DNA Records……………………………………. NCGS §15A-148
- Pardon of Innocence……………………………. NCGS §15A-149
Our firm has extensive experience in preparing and submitting expungement forms. If you are interested in talking to a lawyer about your expungement rights then feel free to call 919-729-9000.