Sacramento Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

The Wall Street Journal today had an excellent article on the increasing number of people seeking to expunge their criminal records. These were the main points:

• With fewer job openings because of the recession, competition for jobs is fierce.
• More employers are taking the time to conduct extensive background checks.
• Background data from across the country is readily accessible through online databases.

Employers are allowed to ask applicants if they have felonies on their records or other crimes that affect their ability to perform the duties of the job. Many employers, though, ask about misdemeanor convictions as well. The reality is that people have to be able to answer truthfully that they have no convictions on their records if they want to be competitive in today's job market. For those who meet the criteria - completed probation, paid all fines and restitution, no time in state prison for the offense, and no current criminal charges pending - the expungement process allows them to compete on a equal footing.

We have certainly seen evidence of this increase in interest in expungements. What's interesting as well is that we represent people from across the socio-economic spectrum. We see people who are trying to turn their lives around after a series of missteps. We also see people who committed a single crime during their younger days, paid the consequences, and then went on with their lives building families and establishing careers. Now, for a variety of reasons, they are looking for new jobs and their convictions from 20 years ago are limiting their job options. Expungement is vital in allowing them to continue to lead happy and productive lives.

For a more detailed discussion of the expungement process, see our September 25 post. if you have questions about expungement, call us at the Law Office of Nancy King.

"More Job Seekers Scramble To Erase Their Criminal Past," The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2009