In many cases, a conviction can follow you well after you’ve satisfied your sentence. Even a seemingly small charge can sometimes affect your ability to get a job. Fortunately, Minnesota’s criminal expungement law can help you get back on your feet. Whether you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or even a felony, criminal expungement may be the best option for you.


Understanding Criminal Expungement

For most crimes, a conviction is not meant to be a permanent punishment. In the state of Minnesota, people are held accountable for crimes they commit, but they don’t have to suffer for the rest of their lives. Criminal expungement is one solution to help people with convictions move on to new and better opportunities.

In short, criminal expungement removes a criminal charge from your record and seals it from the public. This doesn’t absolve you of the crime, but it does open doors that may have previously been closed. In particular, it may be difficult to land certain jobs with a conviction on your record. An employer may not hire you simply because you had a criminal charge five or ten years ago.

Not all charges or convictions can be expunged, and there are very specific rules and limitations regarding expungement. The best way to understand if criminal expungement is an option for you is to contact a qualified lawyer.

Here are some situations where expungement might be an option for you:

  • You have any juvenile record;
  • A case was resolved in your favor, usually by acquittal or dismissal;
  • You were convicted of a petty misdemeanor or misdemeanor and no other charges were filed against you within two years of the completion of your sentence;
  • You were convicted of a gross misdemeanor and no other charges were filed against you within four years of the completion of your sentence; or
  • You were convicted of a low-level felony (non-violent) and no other charges were filed against you within five years of the completion of your sentence.

In any case where there was a conviction, you will need to prove that the need to seal the record outweighs the need for the public to be aware of it. This makes it especially important to hire an expungement attorney to help with the proceedings.


Criminal Expungement Lawyer

Filing for expungement can be a very complicated process, so it’s best to have a qualified attorney on your side. Failure to complete your pleadings correctly, or file with the proper entities, can result in wasted time and money. An experienced defense attorney will make sure your expungement request is filed correctly, giving you the best chance of having your charge, or conviction wiped clean. Your attorney will also be able to prove why you need to have your record expunged.


Always a Free Consultation

Don’t let a minor charge or conviction stay with you for the rest of your life. The lawyers with the Brown Law Offices, P.A., can assist you with criminal expungement so you can have a clean record again. Call our attorneys today at 763-783-5146, or complete our free online consultation form.