Why it’s good to have a previous criminal record expunged

Criminal record expunging

Having a criminal record is bad even if it is just for a misdemeanor case. A previous criminal record will follow you everywhere you go, and it can have a huge effect on how you live your life. This is why it is worth the time, money, effort to get your previous criminal record expunged so you won’t have to live in the shadow of your previous criminal record.

With that in mind, here are a couple of good reasons why you will definitely want to have your previous criminal record expunged.

Help You in Securing a Job

In case you didn’t know, 82 percent of employers conduct a criminal background check on every employee candidate. In fact, most job application forms have a section where you are asked if you’ve been convicted of a crime before.

  • Although it’s normal for employers to do a criminal background check, it becomes awkward for an applicant who has a previous criminal record.
  • They are unsure if they should answer the question truthfully and risk not getting the job, or deny the criminal record and risk violating the law once again.

But if you were able to expunge your previous criminal record, you should be able to say “no” to your employer’s question truthfully. You will also not have to worry if your employer conducts a criminal background check on you.

Help You in Securing a Loan

There are loan agencies that consider someone with a criminal record to be irresponsible with his/her financial obligations. A previously convicted person will have a hard time securing a loan, and if he/she does secure a loan, it will be at the mercy of prohibitive interest rates.

If you don’t expunge your previous criminal record, you will have a hard time buying a car loan, a home loan, or securing an educational loan for your children.

Combine this with the difficulty of securing a job, and a person with a previous criminal record could be in a very tough financial situation

Helps You in Finding an Apartment

Employers are not the only ones who like to conduct a criminal background check. Landlords, too, like to conduct a similar background check on everyone who is looking for a new apartment.

  • Criminal background checks are now mandatory. So if you have a previous criminal record that you failed to expunged, your landlord will most likely know of this and deny you the apartment.
  • If the landlord does agree to lease you an apartment, you’ll be at the mercy of high deposits and higher monthly rent. 

Helps Reinstate Your Gun Rights

In some states, if you are convicted of a crime, you will be no longer allowed to carry a gun. But if you successfully expunged your previous criminal record, your gun rights will be reinstated. 

Help You in Adopting a Child

Your previous criminal record will not be of help to you if you are looking to adopt a child. As such, you must expunge it so you can legally adopt a child.

There are some states where it is illegal for someone with a criminal record to adopt a child.

Keep note though that if your criminal conviction involves child abuse or sex crime against minors, you will never be able to expunge your felony record and you will certainly never be able to adopt a child. 

Give You Peace of Mind

Perhaps one of the best advantages of expunging your previous criminal records is that it gives you peace of mind.

  • It’s hard to feel truly free or live your life normally, if you have a previous criminal record. But if you clear your name of such records, you can feel true freedom again.
  • You start to feel confident that you can contribute more to the society and help other people.
  • You also feel that you now have equal rights and privileges that other citizens enjoy.

Having your previous criminal records expunged can help you move on from your dark past. If you don’t expunge your criminal records like those of gun offenses or stealing, it is sometimes hard to feel like that your conviction is completely behind you. Other people who knew about your previous criminal record will also find it hard to appreciate you, and they will feel unsafe and uncomfortable when they are around you.

However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to expunge your previous criminal records. But, if you follow the rules and regulations regarding criminal record expunging in your state, you’ll have a good chance of getting your records expunged.