Legal Definitions - expungement of record

Expungement of Record

Expungement of record refers to the process of removing a person's criminal conviction, especially for a first offense, from their criminal record. It is also known as expunction of record or erasure of record.

• John was arrested for shoplifting when he was 18 years old. He completed a diversion program and his conviction was expunged from his record.
• Mary was convicted of a drug offense when she was 21 years old. After completing her sentence, she applied for expungement of her record and was successful.

These examples illustrate how expungement of record works. In both cases, the individuals were able to have their criminal convictions removed from their records, which can help them in the future when applying for jobs or housing. Expungement is typically only available for first-time offenders or for minor offenses, and the process can vary depending on the state or jurisdiction.