Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald, Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island
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Expungement attorney John E. MacDonald has over 30 years of experience cleaning up criminal records that are either a bar to future employment, federal benefits, or have immigration consequences. Contact the Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc. today to schedule your free legal consultation to learn more about the expungement process.
In Rhode Island and many other states, the procedure for getting criminal charges cleared from your record is called expungement. Any criminal charge, except for violent crimes, is eligible for expungement in Rhode Island.
Under most circumstances, an expungement attorney completes this process, which involves a petition to the court asking to expunge or seal a record. Once the Order is issued, the state removes the criminal charges noted in the Order from the criminal record.
However, if you received a deferred sentence before July 1, 2010, in Rhode Island, you may have difficulty having your record expunged. Even though you were promised that you would be able to do so at the end of your deferred sentence, Rhode Island changed the law regarding deferred sentence expungements, effectively negating this process for many people in this category.
If you’re interested in learning more about the expungement process and how to expunge a criminal record, see the frequently asked questions below for more information. To discuss your criminal conviction and how to file for expungement now, contact our law office.
Having a criminal conviction on your record could pose a serious threat to your ability to move forward in many areas of life, and it can be detrimental to your future. Nowadays, it’s easy to access personal information on the Internet for both private and professional reasons. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep certain aspects of your personal information hidden from the general public. This includes a criminal conviction.
This challenge often becomes a significant obstacle when someone with a criminal record attempts to sign a lease, apply for a loan, gain employment, or access legitimate income opportunities. In the information age, a person’s complete life history can be found with just a simple click of the keyboard. Fortunately, there are solutions for legally having your criminal record cleared and permanently wiping the slate clean.
Having a criminal conviction on your record could pose as a serious threat to a person’s ability to move forward in many aspects of their future. Due to the ease of access the Internet now provides on individuals both privately and professionally it is becoming increasingly more difficult to keep certain aspects of information hidden from the general public.
This challenge often becomes a large obstacle when an individual is attempting to secure employment or legitimate opportunities to make income. In the information age in which we live, a person’s complete life history can be found with just a simple click of the keyboard. Fortunately, there are solutions for legally having your criminal record cleared and permanently wiping the slate clean.
Although this process can be complicated and intrusive, the benefits of having your criminal record sealed or expunged can have a tremendous impact on your future endeavors. There are specific qualifications an applicant must meet to be eligible to have their criminal history record expunged or sealed. For instance, there is a waiting period for each offense that begins with completing your sentence.
In Rhode Island, you can apply to have a misdemeanor conviction expunged after five years. For a felony conviction, the waiting period is ten years. It’s recommended to have an expungement lawyer manage this process for you. If you’d like to know if you qualify for expungement, contact our law office today.
In many cases, criminal charges may be dropped or dismissed. Many individuals mistakenly assume that means that the record of the criminal charge will also disappear. This is not the case. Criminal history records are considered public property and can, therefore, be legally accessed by the public. If you had a criminal charge dropped and would like to know more about getting the charge expunged, contact our law office today to speak with an expungement attorney.
There is a distinct difference between having a criminal record sealed vs. expunged. Having a record sealed simply means that the public cannot access the record. However, there will still be certain government agencies that will continue to have access to the criminal history record. On the contrary, to expunge a criminal record means the public and government entities cannot access criminal records. The government agency is only notified of the expungement if the agency produces a court order to access the record. Contact us today to speak with a Rhode Island expungement attorney to learn more.
If you have tried unsuccessfully to have your record expunged, or if you believe that you may fall into this category of people who received deferred sentences prior to July 1, 2010, contact Expungement Attorney John E. MacDonald at 401.421.1440. Attorney John E. MacDonald has secured a precedent in this matter that will allow you to vacate your plea via post-conviction relief and have your criminal records expunged. Call him now to discuss your options and determine if you are eligible for this service.
The short answer is that a deferred sentence is an opportunity, a second chance to avoid the scars of a permanent criminal conviction. A more extended response will tell you that a deferred sentence is a five-year probationary term that may be immediately sealed upon successfully completing the probation.
If you receive a deferred sentence, you are given a five-year probationary term. This sentence has several conditions, including full cooperation with your probation officer, gainful employment, and a waiver of extradition. Additional requirements may be imposed that are specific to your cases, such as restitution, counseling, or community service.
If you successfully complete all terms of your deferred sentence and remain trouble-free, the charges shall be dismissed and sealed from your criminal history. In fact, you are legally exonerated from the charges. If, however, you violate any of the terms of the deferred sentence, you are subject to a violation hearing and the maximum statutory penalty.
In most cases, yes -you can expunge a DUI in Rhode Island. There are few exceptions, but most misdemeanor DUI offenders can file for expungement after the waiting period, which is five years. It’s also important to note that you can’t expunge a DUI if you have other criminal convictions on your current record. It can be very beneficial to expunge a DUI conviction. It can help with your car insurance rates and prevent potential employers from accessing it.
If you have been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor in Rhode Island, you can file a motion to expunge it in a District Court. You would go to the District Court where the offense took place. Remember that it’s beneficial to have an expungement lawyer help you with the process. Contact our law office today to begin the expungement process or see if you qualify for expungement.
It is highly recommended to work with an expungement lawyer in Rhode Island. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers specialize in assisting clients with the sealing or expungement of their criminal conviction records. Contact our office if you would like more information about this process and review the eligibility criteria with our skilled legal team. Schedule a consultation to evaluate your legal options.
If you have tried unsuccessfully to have your record expunged, or if you believe that you may fall into this category of people who received deferred sentences before July 1, 2010, contact Expungement Attorney John E. MacDonald at (401) 399-3555. Attorney John E. MacDonald has secured a precedent in this matter that will allow you to vacate your plea via post-conviction relief and have your criminal records expunged. Call him now to discuss your options and determine if you are eligible for this service.
RI Criminal Attorneys at The Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc are available 24 Hours to take your expungement case. Don’t leave your future to chance, contact the Rhode Island Expungement Lawyers at The Law Office Of John E. MacDonald, Inc..
Rhode Island Expungement Attorney Office
Phone: 401.421.1440
If you have questions about the Rhode Island expungement law or how Rhode Island Expungement Lawyer John E. MacDonald can help you, call 401.421.1440 today to schedule your CASE EVALUATION to answer your questions.
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