Are Dropped Charges on Your Criminal Record in New Orleans?

If you have ever been arrested and had your charges dropped, you probably felt a huge wave of relief. Most people assume there is nothing else they need to do, and they’re ready to move on with their lives. But did you ever stop to ask, “Are dropped charges on your criminal record?” Let's see what New Orleans criminal defense attorney Lance Robinson has to say.

Even if the charges are dismissed, it doesn’t mean your criminal record is automatically wiped clean. Your criminal history won’t show a conviction if the charges are dropped, but the arrest will still be on your record. In many cases, this means the arrest will come up whenever a background check is run on your criminal history. The court will also have your arrest record on file, and it may be available for the public to access at the courthouse.

Having an arrest on your criminal record can greatly affect your future, whether it’s for a misdemeanor or a felony. If a potential employer, recruiter, or other decision maker checks your criminal record, they won’t see the result or context of your arrest. This could lead to prejudice against you, which could make it difficult for you to find employment or even rent an apartment.

Just because an arrest goes on your criminal record doesn’t mean it has to stay there. With the help of a criminal defense attorney, you can get dropped charges expunged from your criminal record so you can start with a clean slate. Learn more from the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson about expungement in New Orleans and Louisiana below.

When charges against you are dismissed, it’s understandable that you’d like to leave the past behind you. After all, you are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, even if your charges are dismissed, a background check can easily reveal that there are dropped charges on your criminal record.

People who have a criminal record often find that it creates barriers to work and costs them valuable opportunities. A criminal record includes information about not only your convictions, but your arrests as well.

Federal, state, and local authorities are able to collect this information and use it when needed. This information can be used to help find possible suspects for unsolved crimes. A court can also use criminal records as part of their final decision making.

The most common use of a criminal record is through a background check. A background check can be used by an employer or landlord to see if you have ever committed a crime. In the past, before such information was widely catalogued and shared, people could move to another city or state to escape their criminal record. Now that this information is collected more methodically and kept in electronic databases, your criminal past can follow you everywhere you go.

Dropped charges are still on your criminal record in New Orleans and most other cities until they’re expunged. The consequences can be severe and long-lasting. Having a criminal record can affect the following:

• Employment opportunities
• Government benefits
• Your right to vote
• Finding an apartment
• Parental rights
• School acceptance

If there are dropped charges on your criminal record in New Orleans or another parish, you should reach out to an experienced New Orleans criminal defense attorney to see if an expungement will work for you.

Expungement is the process by which your legal record is erased from the public view. It is possible to expunge an arrest as well as a conviction. If you were ever arrested but not prosecuted, then there are dropped charges on your criminal record that must be expunged in order to erase the arrest from your public record.

If you get an arrest expunged, it should not appear on a background check. It may still show up, however, if you are arrested again and the police check their records. The main goal of expunging an arrest is to make it easier for you to get a job, go to school, and rent a home or apartment.

In the greater New Orleans area, the first step to expunging your record involves obtaining court documents that detail your original case. Next, your attorney must file the proper paperwork with the New Orleans court or the appropriate parish’s court. In Louisiana, it usually takes about three to four months to complete the expungement process.

Many people wonder how much expungement costs. The average cost of expungement can range from $550–$850, depending on what parish you are in, which does not include lawyer fees. This must be paid in full at the time of filing. These fees are split up between the Louisiana State Police, the Criminal District Court Clerk, the parish sheriff, and the parish District Attorney. The only circumstance that allows you to waive these fees in certain parishes is if all of the following applies to you:

• You have no pending felonies.
• You have no prior felony convictions in the country.
• The offense ended in acquittal.

Although you can file an expungement yourself, a qualified criminal defense attorney can help you ensure you expunge your record correctly. This can save you time and frustration over dealing with the difficult procedures involved, so you can move on with your life as quickly and painlessly as possible.

The Law Office of Lance J. Robinson has over 22 years of experience with criminal defense in New Orleans and Louisiana parishes. We have the knowledge and experience to help you through the entire expungement process, so your arrest does not affect your future.

In order to secure an expungement, you must get the right paperwork filed in person, rather than online. The motion you need to file could contain up to 15 pages, and you must fill out and submit the required forms with a background check within 30 days of the filing date. Our law office handles everything for you from start to finish, saving you the headache of trying to find the right paperwork, fill it out correctly, submit it by the proper deadline, and take valuable time out of your day to file it in person.

After your paperwork is filed, the court will have a hearing where the judge will decide whether or not you have the right to get your charges expunged. When it comes to expunging dropped charges, there is a very high likelihood that the judge will decide in your favor. Once the judge grants the expungement, they file an order informing the court and police that those charges need to be removed from your record.

While the expunged charges should no longer be available for background checks and public viewing, the court and the police can still access them if you are arrested again. It’s important to remember that an expungement only helps keep your charges out of the public eye. With the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson on your side, you can put your arrest behind you.

One of the most popular questions we receive is “Are dropped charges on your criminal record?” At the Law Office of Lance J. Robinson, we want to ensure all of our clients are aware that just because your charges have been dropped, that doesn’t mean they’re erased from your criminal record.

The best way to handle expungement in New Orleans and nearby parishes is to contact an attorney experienced with the expungement process. This helps ensure your expungement is filed and your record is cleared as soon as possible.

Lance J. Robinson has the expertise to represent you in court and get your records sealed. Contact us today to get your record expunged and help you move on from your arrest.