Austin Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Attorney Seal Your Records

Are You a Criminal?
If you have been arrested for a crime but were never convicted, Texas law says YOU ARE NOT! So don't let employers, landlords, or anyone else treat you as a criminal. Depending on the disposition of your case, you may be eligible to have your criminal history information sealed or completely destroyed. In Texas, expunction (also called expungement) and non-disclosure are two ways to limit public access to your criminal history record information.

Dismissed Cases / Expunction / Expungement
Expunction, or expungement is the process by which all information regarding a person's arrest and prosecution is purged. Any paper records are destroyed; any digital records are purged from law enforcement information systems. In Texas, expunction is generally available only if the case resulted in a verdict of not guilty following a trial, or the case has been dismissed. Some common forms of dismissal which are eligible for a Texas expunction include:

Complete Dismissal
Deferred Disposition
Deferred Prosecution
Pre-trial Diversion

A person's eligibility for a Texas expunction depends upon several factors, such as the method of disposition and whether the statute of limitations has run. For answers regarding your specific situation, please contact my office.

Deferred Adjudication / Non-Disclosure
A Order of Non-Disclosure is an order that prohibits law enforcement and government agencies from revealing criminal history record information to the general public. A person must have successfully completed a term of deferred adjudication (adjudification) to be eligible. Unlike an expunction, the information is retained by the agencies, but is sealed from the public. However, there are many, many exceptions to non-disclosure orders. State licensing and regulatory agencies, schools, hospitals, and state, county, and municipal hiring authorities, for example, would still have access to the information.

Because non-disclosure is not complete expunction, make sure you understand the effects and consequences before hiring a lawyer. To discuss the specific exceptions, please call my office.

NACDL Logo

Paul Quinzi is a Austin, Texas Lawyer & Criminal Defense Attorney specializing in Drug Crimes, DUI, Sex Crimes, Marijuana, Cannabis, Cocaine, LSD, Weapons Charges, Assault and Battery, Homicide, Burglery and Theft. Paul Quinzi can Seal Your Record with Expunction, Expungement, Deferred Adjudication, Non-Disclosure, Deferred Disposition, Deferred Prosecution, Pre-trial Diversion or Complete Dismissal.

ccc