We have clients ask us all the time about having their arrest record expunged or a conviction hidden from “their record.” Expungement is the process by which a criminal record is destroyed or sealed from public view. Criminal records are public records and thus can be found by a background search done by a prospective employer.
Currently Alabama has no expungement law. So if you are interested in having your record expunged today there is no way to do it. We hear how clients were promised by other attorneys that they could have their record expunged. This is bogus. Don’t believe it.
On Governor Bentley’s desk right now sits SB108. This piece of legislation will provide for the expungement of criminal violations, misdemeanors, and even some felonies in certain situations. This bill has passed both the House and the Senate and the only thing stopping it from becoming law is Governor Bentley’s signature.
You may contact Governor Robert Bentley here:
http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/
Hiring an attorney with experience in the criminal justice system is important if you’re considering having your record expunged in the future. Should this bill become law you will first need to make sure you qualify and second understand that the process isn’t easy.
If you have questions about expungement or the status of the Alabama expungement bill feel free to contact us.
If you’re interested in the text of the bill see:
http://openstates.org/al/bills/2014rs/SB108/documents/ALD00017880/