Law enforcement is aggressive in Duval, St. Johns, and Clay counties. Many Jacksonville area residents are arrested each year for crimes they did not commit. For a variety of reasons, some arrests do not result in a criminal prosecution, and some charges are dismissed. Many of these arrest records can be expunged. Even if you are arrested and charged with a crime, if your arrest results in a “withhold of adjudication,” instead of a conviction, your record may be eligible for sealing.
An expunction essentially erases information regarding your criminal arrest and with a few exceptions (such as applying to be a police officer or a lawyer) allows one to deny ever having been arrested. Sealing is similar, but with a few more exceptions.
Navigating the expunction and sealing process is complicated, and some offenses are ineligible for sealing or expunction. An experienced Jacksonville sealing or Jacksonville expunction attorney can advise you as to your eligibility and options.