The Difference Between Expunging Felonies & Misdemeanors

Do you have a criminal record? If so, you know that a felony or misdemeanor conviction on your criminal record is something that can follow you for the rest of your life. If you've struggled to overcome the stigma of your criminal record, you may have considered expungement as a possibility. If you have a misdemeanor on your record, you may realize that you can indeed apply for expungement. What you may not realize, however is that some felonies are eliglble for expungement as well.

Before we understand the difference between expunging felonies and misdemeanors, it's important to understand the difference between the two types of offenses.

The Difference Between Felonies and Misdemeanors

A misdemeanor is considered a far less serious offense than a felony. There are many things that a felony conviction precludes that a misdemeanor does not (for example, someone with a felony conviction cannot own any type of firearm). A misdemeanor is typically described as an offense that carries with it a penalty of one year in jail or less. Some examples of misdemeanors include disorderly conduct, prostitution, marijuana possession and vandalism.

A felony is a far more serious offense, with far more serious penalties. Someone who is convicted of a felony may spend several years in jail and have a number of restrictions on them upon their release. Some examples of felonies include murder, grand larceny and kidnapping.

The Difference Between Expunging Felonies and Misdemeanors

As one might imagine, having a felony expunged from one's criminal record can be more challenging than having a misdemeanor expunged. However, felonies, particularly if it is a first time felony that is not a sex crime or a crime against a minor, can often be expunged. Even if the felony cannot be expunged, ex-convicts may have some other ways to lift some restrictions placed on them due to the felony, including having the charge reduced to a misdemeanor and having the record sealed.

Expunging Felonies and Misdemeanors

For both felonies and misdemeanors, the process you should go through is the same. Rather than hire a lawyer or going hunting for the correct forms and procedures for your particular state, all you have to do is go to ClearUpMyRecord.com.com. Whether it's a felony or a misdemeanor, after setting up your account, you'll start with the free eligibility check. This will tell you whether your particular offense in your particular state is eligible for an expungement application. If it is, you can contract ClearUpMyRecord.com to collect the necessary application forms for your expungement. You'll receive detailed instructions on how to fill the forms out and information on where they need to go. While ClearUpMyRecord.com does not provide legal services, it does make it easier for you to make sure you have all the forms you need, filled out correctly and sent to the correct location.

More on Expunging Felonies and Misdemeanors

Once you've sent in your application, it may take some time before you get a response. Be patient. You may also have to appear in court before a judge who will examine your case and ask you some questions about why you should have your record expunged. After that, if all goes well, you may have your record cleared, whether it is a felony or a misdemeanor, making it much easier for you to get on with your life.