Many fine Connecticut residents have made a bad decision or gotten caught up in an activity that left them with a criminal record. A record, particularly if the charge was a felony, can limit your educational and job opportunities. It can keep you from getting into a college or vocational school and prevent you from getting a student loan if you do get in. It can prevent you from getting a job or promotion. It may make it impossible to obtain a professional license necessary to your career.
Likely you've heard the term "expungement," which involves getting a conviction cleared from your record. In Connecticut, the legal term used for this is "erasure." With an erasure, all criminal records relating to a crime are destroyed. If an erasure is granted, the person may legally affirm that he or she has not been arrested for or convicted of the crime in question.
Not everyone can qualify for an erasure. At the Law Office of Jerome Paun, however, we can determine whether you qualify for a full or at least partial erasure. A person may qualify for an erasure if any of the following is the case:
-- The activity they were charged with has been decriminalized.
-- The case was disposed of nolle prosequi (which means the prosecutor chose not to continue to prosecute all or part of it).
-- The charges were dismissed or the defendant was found not guilty after the trial was over.
If you don't meet the qualifications for an erasure, filing a petition for an absolute or provisional pardon with the Board of Pardons may be an alternative. Pardons are more complicated to seek, but have fewer restrictions than erasures.
At the Law Office of Jerome Paun, we can help determine whether you qualify for an erasure or pardon and, if so, work to get it approved. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by exploring your options.