A criminal conviction can have many negative effects in your life – a jail sentence or a fine is only the first wave of punishment. After completing the terms of your sentence, you may find that a criminal record can make it difficult to apply for jobs, rent an apartment, obtain a loan, or otherwise engage in a number of routine and professional transactions.
Fortunately, some convictions can be expunged — erased — from your criminal record. Most eligible convictions are low-level, summary offenses, and must be accompanied by an otherwise clean criminal record for a certain number of months or years in order to qualify for expungement. It takes a lot of work and patience, but the law does recognize that otherwise law-abiding people should not permanently suffer for a one-time mistake.
The criminal defense attorneys at Martson Law Offices will work with you from start to finish to make sure you are informed and help you achieve the legal outcome you are seeking.
Expungement law varies by county, but our attorneys have experience in Cumberland County as well as many surrounding counties in south-central Pennsylvania, including Franklin, Adams, York, Dauphin, Perry and other counties.
In Cumberland County and some other counties, for instance, it is possible for a DUI conviction to be expunged from your criminal record while still remaining on your driving record. This will make it easier to apply for jobs and housing, but the DUI will remain visible to law enforcement officers during future traffic stops.
Pennsylvania is also home to a special pretrial intervention program called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). The program is intended to help low-level offenders with no prior criminal record avoid permanent criminal charges and rehabilitate the offender to help him or her avoid future charges.
We can help you determine if ARD is right for you and help you get into the program. We will walk you through the process of ARD, help you understand your criminal record, and when eligible, work with you to get your record clean.
Martson Law Offices has been serving clients in Central Pennsylvania for more than six decades. Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge you’d find at a big-city law firm, but we also have deep roots in the community and understands the legal issues facing our clients locally.
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