Seal Criminal Record In Florida

A youthful mistake or recent bad judgment can haunt a person in employment, education, housing, borrowing, and other aspects of life. If you are worried that your criminal past will cloud your future, it may be possible to seal and expunge those records.

If your records are sealed or expunged, they will not show up on background checks and you can legally state on job applications and other documents that you have not been arrested.

To find out if your offense is eligible to be sealed from public view through expungement, contact the knowledgeable criminal law attorneys of Ferrer Shane, PL. We serve the Miami area and surrounding counties of South Florida.

Seal and Expunge Attorneys in Miami, Florida

Your criminal history record is available to the public, including your arrest and the disposition of your case. If your records are sealed, they are not available to employers or the public, but can be viewed by law enforcement, court personnel, and other government officials. In expungement, also called expunction, those officials cannot view the actual files without a Court Order.

You cannot seal or expunge a conviction if you pled guilty (including withheld adjudication) or were found guilty at a trial. Generally, you may be able to seal records of misdemeanor or felony crimes if:

  • You were arrested and processed but never formally charged
  • Charges were dropped by the prosecutor or dismissed by a judge
  • You were acquitted (found not guilty) at trial

Most non-violent offenses are eligible: shoplifting and theft, alcohol offenses, drug possession, assault or battery, disorderly conduct, juvenile offenses, and criminal traffic offenses, such as DUI or driving while license suspended.

Some offenses can never be sealed or expunged: sex offenses and stalking, domestic violence, drug trafficking or manufacture, offenses by public officials, and major felonies such as arson, home burglary, robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, kidnapping, manslaughter, and murder.

Let’s Discuss Your Specific Situation

We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your offense, whether you might qualify, and the cost and length of the process. Call our Miami office at 305-262-2728 or 888-609-5947.