A criminal record may keep you from getting a job, buying a home or gaining custody of your children.
Expungement removes past criminal charges from your record, allowing you to move forward in life. However, according to the New York Times, less than 6% of eligible people apply. New Jersey’s Clean Slate Expungement Law makes it easier to clean up your record.
The courts remove all of your eligible convictions at once
Previously, you could not expunge more than one indictable offense at a time. The new Clean Slate Expungement Law allows you to have all your past convictions removed from your record at once if you have been crime-free for at least 10 years. Crimes that qualify for expungement with the Clean Slate law are:
- Disorderly conduct
- Marijuana and drug offenses
- Felony convictions that are not: terrorism, child pornography, sexual assault, kidnapping, homicide, arson or other disqualified offenses
- Juvenile convictions
The process is more straightforward with an online application
An online application has simplified the expungement process. You no longer need to fill out paper documents and provide them to the courthouse. This streamlined process files the request with the court and schedules a hearing date upon electronic submittal.
The law makes future expungements automatic
The final provision of the Clean Slate Law is that future expungements occur automatically. While this is still in process, this requirement means offenders no longer need to apply for expungement with the courts. The system removes qualifying offenses from your record after the designated waiting period.
Past convictions do not need to interfere with everyday life. New Jersey’s Clean Slate Law allows you to move beyond your past convictions.
