Expungement

This is a legal process that involves removing or sealing records or files containing criminal charges. While the records won’t literally disappear, they will become inaccessible to the public and law enforcement. Only by court order can they be unsealed. If you had a criminal charge and were fingerprinted, your fingerprints will remain in the database unless you were a minor when you received those charges. Having your records expunged usually means you do not have to list those criminal charges on employment, loan or housing applications. 



If you were charged a juvenile, your charges and convictions can be expunged if you maintain a clean criminal record until age 18. If you were charged as an adult, you can petition the court to expunge prior charges. Crimes that are ineligible for expungement include class A felonies, dangerous felonies, sexual offenses, kidnapping or where death is an element of the offense. 



Your petition for expungement must be filed with the same court in which you were charged or found guilty. You must list every offense you want to be expunged on your petition and the prosecutor will have 30 days to file an objection. A hearing will take place within 60 days if an objection is filed or once “reasonable notice” is given to interested parties if no objection gets filed. As of 2021, you must wait 3 years to file for expungement on a felony and 1 year for a misdemeanor. This was reduced significantly and can allow you a chance at a clean start much sooner than before.



No one wants to feel like they’re being held back in life due to poor decisions they’ve made in the past. If you think you might quality for expungement and would like to learn more about the process, call our office today to set up a consultation. Daniel Finder of Finder Law, LLC has over 10 years of experience practicing criminal defense and expungements in mid-Missouri. He can review your options and create a plan to help you start with a clean slate.