Legal Definitions - erasure of record

Definition: Erasure of record refers to the removal of a conviction, especially for a first offense, from a person's criminal record. It is also known as expungement of record or expunction of record.

Example: John was convicted of a minor offense when he was 18 years old. He completed his sentence and has since stayed out of trouble. He applied for a job, but his criminal record was preventing him from getting hired. He decided to petition for the erasure of his record, and after a successful application, his conviction was removed from his criminal record.

Explanation: This example illustrates how erasure of record can benefit individuals who have made mistakes in the past but have since turned their lives around. By removing the conviction from their criminal record, they have a better chance of finding employment, housing, and other opportunities that may have been previously unavailable to them due to their criminal history.