Expunging or sealing records

questions & answers

Question: My son broke into a building but didn't steal anything is there anyway to get expunged?

Answer: Not knowing how old your son is or what he was charged with, the information on expungement/set aside can be found at: http://azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=13&sc=66&articleid=147 In Arizona, expungement has the same meaning as setting aside. Expungement does not wipe out the conviction. The record of conviction is not destroyed. For the protection of the public, a conviction may be used to deny certain kinds of employment, licenses, permits, certificates as well as used against a person in future criminal cases, even though the conviction was set aside or expunged. A person whose conviction has been set aside or expunged must disclose the conviction if the employment application asks whether the person has a prior conviction. An applicant must report previous conviction of an offense, if asked about prior convictions during a job interview. However, the applicant should also report that the conviction “has been vacated (or set aside) and the charges dismissed.” The court uses this language in setting aside a conviction.