Rockville, MD Expungement Attorney

Experienced Lawyer for Sealing Criminal Records in Rockville, MD

Having a criminal record can stand between you and opportunity. Universities, employers, and even landlords may look negatively on an applicant who has a criminal record. Your job applications might be discarded right away if you have to explain a criminal conviction, even if there were extenuating circumstances or the offense happened a long time ago. Many people find that the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction are worse than the sentencing ordered by the court. In some cases, even if you were not convicted, you could still be harmed by the existence of court records. A case where you were not found guilty may still show up on a background check.

Diamant Gerstein, LLC may be able to have certain convictions and court records expunged, or hidden from public view. Expunging an old criminal court case can help you get your life back and move on from the past. Our knowledgeable Rockville, MD expungement attorneys will investigate to see if your court records are eligible to be sealed. If they are, we will do all we can to help you have them made confidential so they do not continue to haunt you.

If You Were Not Found Guilty, Expungement is Likely

Even if you were not found guilty, meaning the accusations against you were unproven or even unfounded, having a criminal case opened against you can cause problems. A potential employer may not want to take the chance that you were guilty and avoided conviction on a technicality. Expunging these records can help. An attorney can likely have your records sealed if you:

• Were found not guilty - If you went to trial and were acquitted, you can usually have those records sealed. It is too easy for people who did not hear all the evidence to question the verdict and hold the case against you.
• Had your case dismissed - Courts may dismiss cases when there is not enough evidence to proceed, or when the charges are patently unreasonable.
• Went through a diversion program - Successfully completing a diversion program usually means that no guilty verdict will be entered and you can ask for expungement.
• Got probation before judgment - If you fulfill the requirements of probation, you will not be adjudicated guilty and are eligible to have your records expunged.

Expungement After a Guilty Verdict

In some cases, you can expunge court records even if you were adjudicated guilty. Your criminal records can automatically be expunged if the crime you were convicted of committing is no longer a crime in Maryland. The most common example of this is minor marijuana-related offenses. Now that cannabis products are legal in Maryland, people with a past conviction for possession of marijuana can have their cases expunged.

Some convictions for "nuisance crimes" can also be expunged. Nuisance crimes are minor offenses that would become problematic if the state stopped enforcing laws against them, but are generally seen as nonserious. Nuisance crimes include things like panhandling, public urination, loitering, drinking alcohol in public, and vagrancy. If you were convicted of a nuisance crime several years ago, you may now be able to ask for that conviction to be expunged.

Certain misdemeanor offenses can be expunged after a waiting period of five to 15 years after the completion of any sentencing. Misdemeanors that you may be able to eventually expunge, especially if you have only a single conviction, include:

• Drunk and disorderly.
• Drug possession or paraphernalia.
• Trespass.
• Breaking and entering on a vehicle.
• Disturbing the peace.
• Minor theft.
• DUI.

It is important to have strong legal representation from an attorney experienced in criminal defense when you are trying to expunge a misdemeanor conviction.

Contact a Rockville, MD Record Sealing Attorney

Diamant Gerstein, LLC is committed to helping people expunge eligible criminal records. Our knowledgeable Rockville, MD expungement attorney will do all we can to have your records sealed. Contact us at 301-560-2685 for a complimentary consultation.