5 Major Benefits of Having Your Criminal Record Expunged

Having a criminal record isn’t necessarily the end of the world, but it can certainly make your life more difficult. As a result, you may be interested in the prospect of expunging your record, or making it as though it never existed in the first place. In case you didn’t know, this is an option for many one-time offenders and even for some who have multiple offenses (depending what they are, the state you live in, and so on). But there are so many benefits to be gained from expunging your criminal record that there’s really no reason not to at least talk to a lawyer about the prospect of pursuing this course of action. Here are just a few reasons to get the ball rolling.

1. Pass background checks. You might be surprised by the number of things you have to get background checks for. While this process doesn’t really affect those with a clean record, people who have a criminal past on paper will suffer any time a background check is conducted. And considering the stigma surrounding this type of history, you could find yourself passed over for jobs, loans, and any number of other activities that call for a background check. If you want any hope of leading a normal life after you’ve paid your debt to society, expunging your criminal record could be your best option to get your life back.
2. Secure gainful employment. One of the most basic rights of humans is to work in order to provide for themselves and their families. And you’d like to believe that you can succeed and advanced based on your own merits, which is to say, your knowledge, skills, education, experience, and work ethic, just for example. But with a criminal record you may never get the chance to prove yourself. Many employers are hesitant to hire an applicant that has a history of criminal behavior.
3. Qualify for loans. Even if you had stellar credit before your conviction, you may be unable to secure loans simply because of your criminal record. Most lenders have a variety of criteria that applicants for loans must meet in order to qualify. And a criminal past may mark you as a risk, one that banks are unwilling to bet on.
4. Start a family. If you are unable to start a family on your own, you might be keen to adopt as a way for you and your partner to build the happy family you’ve always wanted. Unfortunately, a criminal record could preclude you from adopting children. In fact, it is illegal to adopt with a criminal record in more than a dozen states.
5. Get free. It is said that once you have paid your fines, served your time, or completed whatever punishment was meted out for your particular crime, your debt to society has been repaid and you’re back to square one. But as anyone with a criminal record knows, this isn’t really true. Your criminal misdeeds could follow you around for the rest of your life, making it hard difficult to get a job, make a major purchase like a car or a home, and even engage in online dating, in some cases. So it’s in your best interest to scrape together the money to hire an Albany, Atlanta, or Austin expungement lawyer to clear up the problem for you. Only then can you truly be free of the mistakes of your past.