A criminal record can affect many areas of your life, from employment opportunities to housing applications and professional licensing. If your criminal history contains information that should no longer appear or includes errors, you may have legal options available to correct it.
Alabama law allows some people to clear their eligible criminal records through the expungement process. However, not every arrest or conviction qualifies for this opportunity, so understanding the process is going to be important if you’re hoping to take advantage of it.
1. Obtain a copy of your criminal record
Review your criminal history carefully and look for issues such as:
- Charges that were dismissed but still appear as active
- Cases that qualify for expungement under state law
- Incorrect personal information
- Duplicate or incomplete records
- Convictions that have been vacated but remain on your history
Having an accurate copy of your record and working with a legal practitioner helps you determine whether the problem is an error or whether you need to pursue an expungement or another legal remedy.
2. Find out whether you qualify for expungement
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify if:
- Your charge was dismissed.
- You were found not guilty.
- Your case was no-billed by a grand jury.
- The prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi under qualifying circumstances.
- You completed an approved diversion, drug court, mental health court or veterans court program and satisfied the applicable waiting period for eligible offenses.
Because eligibility depends on the type of offense, reviewing your situation carefully before filing is important.
An arrest or criminal charge does not have to define your future. If your case qualifies under Alabama law, expungement may help remove eligible records from public view and open the door to new opportunities. Speaking with a legal professional can help you determine the best path for clearing or correcting your criminal history accordingly.