821 west 11th street
Austin, Texas
512.535.1081
Expunction 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. 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 expunction include:
- Complete Dismissal
- Deferred Disposition
- Deferred Prosecution
- Pre-trial Diversion
A person's eligibility for an 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. 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.
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