Morristown Expungement Lawyer

Sealing Criminal Records in Morristown, New Jersey & Beyond

Expungement is extremely beneficial for convicted criminals who have fulfilled their sentences and wish to move forward with their lives without being haunted by their criminal history. Expungement allows qualifying individuals to remove and isolate all records pertaining to an arrest or conviction from all sources related to law enforcement.

When the expungement process is complete, it is as though the crime committed never actually occurred. Those who are interested in expungement as a means to effectively erase mistakes made in the past should seek the services of an experienced attorney who is familiar with the process.

Contact a skilled expungement attorney in Morristown today to learn more about how The Law Offices of Christopher G. Porreca, P.C. can help.

Do I Qualify for Expungement?

The first step toward expungement is to file an expungement petition, which your Morristown criminal defense attorney should be able to take care of for you. This petition includes information concerning your arrest such as the specific charges, date of conviction, and more. A hearing is scheduled within 60 days after the expungement petition is filed. A variety of law enforcement authorities will be called upon to provide pertinent information about you and your arrest. If they do not object and you fit all other applicable requirements, then an expungement order will be issued to all law enforcement agencies.

The expungement process can be complicated for those who are unfamiliar with this specific legal process. The Law Offices of Christopher G. Porreca, P.C. is very knowledgeable regarding expungement matters, requirements and results and is dedicated to providing valuable insight in terms of process navigation, representation, and complete satisfaction of required paperwork.

Understanding New Jersey’s New Expungement Laws

New Jersey lawmakers have passed a package of bills that offer many new expungement opportunities to individuals with criminal records. Effective as of October 2018, bills S-3306 (A5036), S-3307 (A5037), and S-3308 (A5038) are intended to radically increase the number of adult and juvenile offenders who are eligible for and can benefit from record expungements.

Bill S-3306 (A5036):

• Amends P.L.2014, Chapter 32
• Expands existing “ban the box” legislation
• Prohibits employers from inquiring about criminal records during job interviews
• Prevents employers from asking about expunged records during job interviews

Bill S-3307 (A5037):

• Amends and supplements Chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes
• Applies to adult criminal records
• Increases the number of expungable convictions
• Permits expungements for people convicted of certain marijuana sales offenses
• Eliminates the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) Bar
• Allows individuals to expunge their records even if they still owe fines or restitution
• Shortens the waiting period down to 6 years for felony convictions
• Increases the number of convictions a person can expunge from 3 to 4

Allows individuals to expunge multiple felony convictions so long as:

• The petitioner has not been convicted of any prior or subsequent felony offenses
• The convictions culminated in a single judgment of conviction; or
• The convictions are related and were committed within a short period of time

Bill S-3308 (A5038):

• Amends and supplements Chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes
• Applies to juvenile criminal offenses
• Shortens the waiting period down to 3 years
• Increases the number of expungable convictions

These groundbreaking reforms are removing many barriers for people struggling with past criminal convictions. Ideally, this three-bill package will improve the state economy by creating many new employment opportunities for New Jersey residents.

Get Help From an Expungement Lawyer in Morristown, NJ!

I wholeheartedly believe in the right of non-violent convicted criminals to have their criminal records wiped clean if they satisfy the right requirements for expungement. My firm can organize all necessary information regarding your criminal history and good-standing with authorities in order to have the best chance at success. I serve clients throughout Morris County and many other communities in New Jersey.

Contact my firm today by calling (973) 828-0009 to learn about your options to expunge your criminal records.