Texas Expungement Laws

Expunge means to delete, to erase, or wipe out. An expungement in terms of a criminal matter in Texas means that an event that is on your criminal record is erased and will no longer affect you. This means that you do not have to mention it when applying for a job or in other written applications or answer any questions about it. It also means that it cannot be accessed on a routine background check that any future employer, financial institution, educational institution, or landlord or leasing company may run on you. For all intents and purposes, the event no longer exists.

You can get an arrest which failed to end up in a conviction or a Class C misdemeanor fully expunged if you received deferred adjudication or finished your community supervision. Class C misdemeanors consist of the most basic offenses which generally do not result in jail terms but fines of less than $500. Typical Class C misdemeanors in Texas include criminal mischief, criminal trespass, shoplifting of items less than $50, disorderly conduct, reckless destruction, some types of assault, writing bad checks, and other specific violations. In cases where you were found guilty of other offenses that were more serious than a Class C misdemeanor, expungement of your criminal record is prohibited. Other alternatives for which you may be eligible exist, however, to address the issue. These include an Order of Nondisclosure which may work in some circumstances.

The process of expungement is covered under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 called "Expunction of Criminal Records."

Criminal Defense Firm in Round Rock, Texas

Seeking an expungement is a legal process. You will need an experienced expungement attorney who can represent you through the process to ensure that it is done properly and smoothly. If you are located in Williamson County, you can turn to the criminal defense firm of R. Scott Magee, Attorney at Law. Attorney Magee has more than 14 years of experience of handling criminal matters in the local courts. He handles criminal defense matters of all kinds including all of the procedures related to drug crimes, DWI, assault, domestic violence, juvenile crimes, theft crimes, probation violations, violent crimes, and more.

Mr. Magee and his staff offer personalized legal service aimed at obtaining the best result for you. The firm also offers a free consultation to help you get started in resolving your criminal law matter. Contact the firm to arrange for your consultation about a potential expungement or for a criminal arrest today