Fort Myers Juvenile Crimes Lawyer

Juvenile Crimes Attorney in Fort Myers, FL

Having a criminal record can significantly impact your life. Your record is accessible through background checks, meaning it can be seen by landlords, employers, universities, and other parties. Unfortunately, a criminal record can eliminate many life opportunities. Expungement of your record can give you a new start. A Fort Myers expungement lawyer can help you file a petition to expunge your criminal record successfully.

Hire an Expungement Lawyer at Atlas Defense Law

The expungement process in Fort Myers is strict and complicated, but done right, it can change your future. You need a dedicated, trusted attorney to fight for you, determine whether you are eligible for expungement, and help you file for that fresh start. Atlas Defense Law has spent nearly two decades in criminal law and has navigated over 50 trial cases.

Our firm understands the criminal court and its processes and has experience with the Sixth District, which serves Lee County and Fort Myers. We know how important expungement is to your employment and other opportunities in your life, so we are dedicated to a favorable outcome.

Benjamin Abdulnour responds to calls personally and works with you to develop an expungement petition that is more likely to be successful. He helps you navigate this complex process and determine the right option for expungement.

Understanding Expungement in Florida

Sometimes, expungement refers to the complete erasure of a criminal record, but this isn’t what it means in Florida. Here, expungement means sealing your criminal record. It won’t be available in background checks and will be hidden from public view. You may also have the right to deny criminal offenses. Only certain parties, such as law enforcement, will be able to access your record.

Expungement does not always seal your entire criminal record. It can seal the charges you petition to have sealed, which may include only certain convictions.

What Cannot Be Expunged in Fort Myers?

Florida has very strict expungement laws. Many offenses cannot be expunged. There are also convictions that can prevent you from expungement of any other offenses.

To be eligible for expungement, the following must be true:

1. Your criminal record does not contain a specifically ineligible offense. This includes a wide range of offenses, such as homicide, terrorism, robbery, carjacking, arson, and drug trafficking.
2. You have never been convicted of certain criminal offenses in Florida, except for offenses committed by minors that are expunged. This includes offenses like assault, battery, certain weapons offenses, child neglect, exposure of sexual organs, theft, or cruelty to animals.
3. You were not convicted of the offense you were arrested or charged for, and you are no longer under court supervision for the alleged offense.
4. You have never previously secured an expunction or record sealing.

In 2021, the state’s total crime index was 427,524 criminal offenses. 10,250 of those criminal offenses occurred in Lee County.

Types of Expungement in Fort Myers

There are several options for sealing or expunging a criminal record in Florida. This includes:

1. Administrative expungement. This type of expungement applies to an arrest made in error or that violated the law.
2. Court-ordered expungement. This is the typical form of expungement: you can apply for a certificate of eligibility if you meet the eligibility requirements, and then you can file your petition.
3. Automatic sealing. There is an automatic process at the state level to seal records when they meet specific criteria.
4. Juvenile diversion expungement. An individual who has finished a juvenile diversion program for qualifying offenses can secure this form of expungement.
5. Lawful self-defense expungement. This expungement is possible when the crime was committed in self-defense and the charges were dismissed or not filed.
6. Human trafficking expungement. Victims of human trafficking can expunge arrests or charges related to the human trafficking scheme.
7. Automatic juvenile expungement. A juvenile record can be automatically expunged when certain conditions are met upon turning 21 or 26.
8. Early juvenile expungement. Those aged 18 to 21 with a juvenile record can have it expunged if they have not committed any criminal offense within the past 5 years.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does an Expungement Lawyer Cost in Florida?

A: The cost of an expungement lawyer in Florida varies based on the attorney. Working with an attorney can seem costly, but it can help you file a more successful request for expungement and lead to a better outcome. This can help you safeguard your future.

Q: Do I Need a Lawyer to Expunge My Record in Florida?

A: While you aren’t required to hire an expungement lawyer, it is incredibly beneficial to do so in Florida. Hiring a lawyer to expunge your record makes the process much easier, helps you determine if you qualify, and makes it easier to file a complete and accurate application for expungement. An attorney can give you crucial guidance throughout the process. If your expungement requires a court appearance, your attorney can represent you.

Q: What Disqualifies You From Expungement in Florida?

A: In Florida, you are disqualified from expungement for numerous criminal offenses. This includes murder, manslaughter, homicide, and terrorism. It also includes assault or battery, aggravated assault, felony battery, aggravated battery, and domestic battery by strangulation.

You also cannot expunge convictions of stalking, aggravated stalking, sexual misconduct, sexual battery, or human trafficking. Arson, burglary, carjacking, robbery, and drug trafficking are also disqualified from expunction. You may also be unable to expunge a different offense if you were convicted of other offenses.

Q: Is It Better to Expunge or Seal a Record?

A: It is typically better to expunge rather than seal a record, because expungement means the erasure of the information in the criminal record, while sealing it means it is hidden from public records but could be accessible by certain people, like governmental agencies and law enforcement. However, many states only allow record sealing, not expungement. Other states call the process expungement, but the effect is the same as sealing.

Find a Fort Myers Expungement Attorney Today At Atlas Defense Law, we can help you seal your criminal record. Contact us today.