Raleigh Criminal Defense Attorney, Michelle Sparrow, defines expungement and explains how it works in North Carolina, particularly for certain types of felonies.
You have been accused of a criminal offense. You hire an attorney, you go to court and triumphantly win your case. So what happens now?
Whether you are charged with a crime and not found guilty, or even if your case is dismissed, information about your charges can still be found in public record.
Fortunately, with a process known as expungement, steps can be taken to remove this information and have the file sealed, making them unavailable to the general public.
Expungement normally takes 6-12 months. A petition for expungement is filed with the Clerk of Court and is reviewed by a judge who can then either grant or deny the request. Expungement is normally seen with first time offenders.
Recently, a change in North Carolina law has resulted in the ability for certain nonviolent lower-level felonies to be expunged. It is possible that if you’ve been charged with a felony in the past, depending on the nature of the charges, to have the record expunged.
If you are seeking expungement of charges found in public record, contact the Raleigh criminal defense attorneys at Sparrow Law Firm for a free consultation.