Your Clearwater Criminal Defense Attorney for Sealing and
Expunging a Criminal Record in Florida
After
a criminal case is dismissed or dropped in Florida, it still
may be a part of public record for the world to see. Criminal
charges, even if they are dismissed or dropped, may affect
your ability to get a job, move to a new address, or go to
school. This is why you may need the assistance of a criminal
defense attorney in Florida to assist you with sealing or
expunging a criminal record. Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto,
P.A. is a criminal defense attorney firm with offices in Clearwater,
St. Petersburg, and New Port Richey. We have an extensive
background both as prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers
in the Tampa Bay area, and we’d be glad to speak with
you about how to seal or expunge your records in Florida.
Sealing
or expunging a criminal record in Florida is a process by
which your arrest record may be concealed or removed from
public view. The differences between sealing and expunging
a criminal record in Florida are subtle. Once your records
are sealed or expunged, they are removed from viewing by the
general public, but they may still be seen by law enforcement
agencies under certain circumstances. Here are some differences
in Florida laws for sealing and expungment of records:
Sealing
a criminal record: The public will not have access
to the record, but certain government officials may be able
to see it. Members of the public can only view a sealed record
through a court order.
Expunging
a criminal record: When someone from the public asks
to see the record, he or she will be told the record has been
expunged.
Sealing
and expunging a criminal record in Florida is covered under
Florida Statutes, chapter 943. If you are interested in sealing
or expunging a criminal record in the Tampa Bay area such
as Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco counties, a criminal defense
attorney should be involved to help you understand the complications
that may arise when interpreting the law. For example, certain
crimes are exempt from being sealed or expunged in Florida.
In addition, sealing and expunging a criminal record has specific
legal requirements for eligibility as well as procedural issues,
all of which our criminal defense attorneys can consult you
about.
It’s
perfectly understandable that you would not want a criminal
history to follow you for the rest of your life, especially
if the charges against you were dropped or if you were found
“not guilty” by a jury of your peers. Give yourself
a second chance by finding out if you are eligible for sealing
or expunging your criminal record in Florida. Call a criminal
defense attorney in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and New Port
Richey from Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A., at (727)
446-8600. We will take a look at your record and let you know
if you qualify for sealing or expungement. If you are eligible,
a criminal defense attorney from our firm can assist you with
filing and paperwork so that you can be free from the restrictions
that are hindering you from enjoying your life.
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