In a nutshell, expungement is the process of clearing an individual's criminal record. The expungement process is a somewhat complicated one that differs from state to state and depends on the type of charge. There are of course some crimes that can never be removed from an individual's record, but a vast majority are eligible for expungement. In Oklahoma, there are limited circumstances surrounding when a criminal record can be cleared. Having a criminal record can have a lasting impact on a person's life, hindering them from getting a job, finding an apartment to rent, being approved for a mortgage, or a host of other life goals. These are just a handful of reasons why a person may pursue an expungement.

Virtually every single U.S. state has expungement laws in place that govern how residents are able to clear their arrest record. While the specifics may vary from state to state, the majority of states have laws in place that state when an arrest or conviction has been expunged, it no longer needs to be disclosed. This means you will not have to tell a potential employer, landlord, or lending agency that you have a criminal record, as that conviction has been removed from your file with an expungement.

UNDERSTANDING THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS

An expungement can provide someone with a criminal record a fresh start. For this reason, it is imperative that anyone who is seeking an expungement takes the time to understand their state's laws. One of the best ways to do this is by hiring an experienced Oklahoma expungement attorney. Our attorneys not only understand Oklahoma's expungement laws, but are here to help you file all the proper documentation and get the process started. There are a handful of eligibility requirements surrounding Oklahoma expungements, including the following:

• The person has been acquitted of the charge(s)
• The person convicted but the conviction was appealed and reversed by an appellate court of competent jurisdiction
• The convicted person received a full pardon on the basis of a findings of actual innocence by the state's Governor
• The person was arrested but never charged
• The person was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense and has since received full pardon
• The person successfully completed a deferred sentence for a misdemeanor
• The person successfully completed a deferred sentence for a non-violent felony
• The person was the victim of identity theft

These are just a handful of the eligibility requirements a person must meet in order to have a criminal record expunged. Keep in mind this is just a brief overview of Oklahoma's eligibility requirements. If you have a specific question, please contact an Oklahoma City expungement lawyer from Worden Law Firm today. We have years of experience helping Oklahoma residents clear their record of any criminal conviction and are prepared to do the same for you today.