After the Conviction: Legal Help from an Experienced Criminal Attorney
The criminal justice system provides various avenues for those convicted of crimes to seek relief. Post-conviction relief takes many forms ranging from appeals and release to a new trial, sentence modification, expungements, and more.
Jackie Adams, a California criminal attorney, specializes in post-conviction relief and can help you with:
Expungements – Getting a Conviction Removed
Expungement is a process whereby a person convicted of a crime, with the help of a criminal defense attorney, petitions the court to re-open the case, remove the guilty verdict or plea, and dismiss the charges against you. With expungement, while your criminal case record will still exist, its outcome will change from a guilty conviction to dismissed.
Expungement is appropriate under limited circumstances, and many exceptions exist.
Petition to Seal and Destroy Arrest Record
You’ve been arrested and rightfully cleared, but your arrest records still exist. Despite your innocence, future employers, landlords, insurance companies, and other interested parties may ask if you’ve ever been arrested — and you have, making for an awkward conversation you’d rather avoid. Even if they don’t ask, most will stumble upon your arrest records, mug shots, and other information when conducting a criminal background check.
It’s not fair. Fortunately, there’s a remedy: petition to seal and destroy your arrest records in California. As a criminal lawyer, Jackie Adams is experienced in this process. In order to successfully get your arrest record sealed and destroyed, your criminal defense attorney must prove your factual innocence. This is not a simple matter of raising reasonable doubt; it’s a complex matter of exonerating you.
Juvenile Sealings
In some cases, eligible juvenile records are automatically sealed by the court in California. In others, you have to petition the court to do so — especially if your case was dismissed before January 1, 2015.
In California, juvenile records can be sealed once you’ve turned 18 and at least five years have elapsed since: 1.) your case was closed, 2.) you’ve been declared rehabilitated by a judge, or 3.) your last contact with probation.
However, certain convictions such as for serious offenses or convictions as an adult, do not qualify for juvenile sealings.
Early Termination of Probation
Probation serves a purpose, but it can also hold you back. For example, you may be restricted from travel which could cause you problems at work. If you’ve completed the terms of your probation (such as successfully completed drug and alcohol counseling / treatment) and have a valid reason to seek probation relief, a criminal defense attorney can help you petition for early termination of probation.
Vacating Pleas for Immigration Purposes
Non-citizens with a criminal conviction in California often face deportation proceedings, have difficulty obtaining a green card, or are denied reentry after leaving the country. However, they may not have been aware of these consequences at the time that they pled guilty. Vacating pleas for immigration purposes involves petitioning the court to throw out your conviction or re-sentence to eliminate the immigration consequences of the conviction.
Each of these post-conviction relief processes requires the expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact Jackie Adams today to schedule a consultation.