Most people do not realize that even if a charge is dismissed or they are found not guilty, the original charge still appears on their criminal record. Dismissed charges make it hard to rent a home, find a job, gain admission to college, and hinder other opportunities. The collateral consequences of a felony dismissal can be far greater than expected and are often completely unfair to the wrongfully accused.
North Carolina SB 445
Effective December 1, 2017, the new law, Senate Bill 445, will allow those that qualify, to expunge felonies and misdemeanors in which they were found not guilty or dismissed even if the person has had a prior expungement, which is a change from the current law.
Also under SB 445, those who qualify that have prior convictions may be able to clear their records of certain charges or convictions sooner than what is available under the current law. A first-time nonviolent felon used to wait 15 years before petitioning for expungement but after Dec 1, the waiting period will be reduced to 10 years. A person convicted of a non-violent misdemeanor must wait 5 years instead of the previously required 15 years.
To see if you qualify, contact an experienced expungement attorney at Dummit Fradin for your pre-screening free of charge.
Senate Bill 445