Many people ask, “How do I clear my criminal record?” The question is natural and obvious.
A criminal conviction can haunt you for life by
- effecting job opportunities
- limiting housing options
- hurting your credit
- being a reoccurring personal embarrassment
- and much more.
Recently, New York State created a mechanism for sealing criminal convictions. Criminal Procedure Law 160.59 allows a person with a conviction that is at least 10 years old to apply to have their record sealed. To be considered applicants cannot have more than:
- two misdemeanor convictions, or (
- one felony conviction and one misdemeanor conviction.
Once a criminal record is sealed the conviction would no longer be found through a public records search.
The law is expansive. This means you may get a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction sealed, a controlled substance conviction sealed, a marijuana conviction sealed, a drug conviction sealed, an assault conviction sealed, or many other criminal convictions sealed from your record. Particular crimes are excluded from sealing such as certain violent felonies, sex crimes, and crimes against children.
It is worth noting that New York still does not allow criminal records to be expunged but the new sealing law is pretty close to expungement (the most notable difference being law enforcement still having access to the old records).
If you want to get away from the shadow of your past by having your old misdemeanor conviction or felony conviction sealed, contact SUE CITY. We are here for you 24/7/365.
