Expunge Your Tennessee Criminal Record



Posted: Wednesday, June 03, 2009

by
Moore Trademarks

Past mistakes need not haunt you forever. It's good to know that you're not a criminal if you can get an expungement. A good expungement lawyer can assist you in clearing your Tennessee criminal record.

Most convictions in Tennessee are permanent. This applies whether you are attempting to expunge a misdemeanor or expunge a felony. There are still some convictions that can be expunged, however. If you entered into a pre-trial diversion or post-trial diversion agreement with the prosecution and successfully completed your probation, you could be eligible to get your criminal record expunged. Keep in mind that any violation of your diversion agreement could make an expungement impossible. The only way to know for sure is to contact an expungement attorney familiar with the requirements of the jurisdiction where you were charged. Keep in mind any time you are expunging your record in Tennessee after completing a diversion agreement a small fee will be required.

If the charges were dismissed against you, Tennessee will allow you to expunge them for no fee. Many people do not realize it, but even if a charge is dismissed against you, it will show up in a criminal background check. Though it will appear as dismissed, any charged crime can raise questions about you to others. This can be especially damaging if you are applying to college or a technical school, or if a new employer is doing a background check to determine whether to hire you. This is a needless risk if you can apply for expungement and get an expungement order from the court erasing your record.

Using your full name and date of birth, an expungement attorney can fully research your criminal record. Expungement applications are detailed legal documents, and a slight misstep can delay your expungement for weeks or even months. A proper expungement application addresses every case number under every name you may have been charged under. A proper Tennessee expungement will make sure that every legal record that can negatively affect you will be erased forever.

Getting a criminal expungement is among the most important things you can do. An actual conviction is one thing - one must remember that even a criminal charge can negatively affect one's reputation. If you are ineligible for an expungement, there is a process where you can petition the governor for a pardon for the crime committed. This is usually a long shot, but still a worthwhile option if you are unable to qualify for an expungement under present law. It is still worth first contacting an expungement attorney to determine whether you can obtain a criminal expungement as this is the most cost effective option.

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Nathan Moore is a criminal defense lawyer based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Moore's practice covers all elements of criminal defense - you can learn more at his firm website. If you are interested in learning whether your prior charges or convictions can be expunged, you can discover more about the expungement process in Tennessee here.
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