After being arrested, many people assume that being found not guilty or having the criminal charges dropped means they will not have a criminal record. Unfortunately, an arrest in Florida remains a matter of public record, even if the arrested individual was never convicted of the crime in question.
The good news is that state law allows individuals in these situations to have their criminal records expunged so it’s as if they were never arrested. However, the process of expunging a criminal record can be extremely complicated and has numerous restrictions not only on the number of times people can expunge records but also the kinds of offenses that may be expunged.
If you are currently exploring how to expunge your criminal record in Florida, it is in your best interest to retain legal counsel to ensure you satisfy all the necessary requirements. The Hoffman Firm helps clients all over the greater Mimi-Dade County area.
Call our firm today at (305) 928-1669.
Expunction in Florida
The process of expunction effectively removes a person’s criminal record from public view. The record is physically destroyed, and the FDLE maintains a limited confidential record of the person’s criminal history.
Individuals who have had their criminal records expunged may lawfully deny or refuse to acknowledge the arrests covered by their expungement, except when they:
- Are candidates for employment with criminal justice agencies
- Are defendants in criminal prosecutions
- Concurrently or subsequently petition for relief under Florida Statute § 943.059 (court-ordered sealing of criminal history records), Florida Statute § 943.0585 (court-ordered expunction of criminal history records), or Florida Statute § 943.0583 (human trafficking victim expunction)
- Are candidates for admission to the Florida Bar
- Are seeking to be employed, licensed by, or contracted with the Department of Children and Families, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within the Department of Education, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Health, the Department of Elderly Affairs, or the Department of Juvenile Justice; or to be employed or used by such contractor or licensee in a sensitive position having direct contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly
- Are seeking to be employed or licensed by the Department of Education, any district school board, any university laboratory school, any charter school, any private or parochial school, or any local governmental entity that licenses childcare facilities
- Are seeking to be licensed by the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services within the Department of Financial Services
- Are seeking to be appointed as a guardian
- Are attempting to purchase firearms from licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, or licensed dealers and are subject to criminal history checks under state or federal law
- Are seeking to be licensed by the Bureau of License Issuance of the Division of Licensing within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm
A Legal Advocate You Can Depend On
The expungement process is complicated and requires a practiced eye. Attorney Hoffman has served the Miami area for over two decades. He has a track record of success and experience with hundreds of juried and non-juried cases. Choose an attorney you can trust to defend your best interests.
If you need an expungement in Miami, contact The Hoffman Firm today.