misdemeanor expungable??
01-24-2010, 02:13 PM
#1
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misdemeanor expungable??
i'm not even sure if expungable is a word, however, I was wondering if anyone knows if a class 3 misdemeanor (intox in public, already plead guilty) can be be expunged in Virginia? Its been 2 years if that helps? thanx for any feedback.
01-24-2010, 02:51 PM
#3
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This is the statute that governs your case.
If any of the following applies to you, looks like you need to file a petition requesting expungement. I advise you to contact a Virginia lawyer; I am licensed in Washington and don't know the nuances of VA law.
Just re-read your post. I think that since you pled guilty, that complicates matters. The statute clearly says expungement is available to you if you were acquitted or a nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) was taken. Pleading guilty is the opposite of these two situations.
If any of the following applies to you, looks like you need to file a petition requesting expungement. I advise you to contact a Virginia lawyer; I am licensed in Washington and don't know the nuances of VA law.
Just re-read your post. I think that since you pled guilty, that complicates matters. The statute clearly says expungement is available to you if you were acquitted or a nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) was taken. Pleading guilty is the opposite of these two situations.
� 19.2-392.2. Expungement of police and court records.
A. If a person is charged with the commission of a crime and
1. Is acquitted, or
2. A nolle prosequi is taken or the charge is otherwise dismissed, including dismissal by accord and satisfaction pursuant to � 19.2-151, or
3. Is granted an absolute pardon for the commission of a crime for which he has been unjustly convicted, he may file a petition setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge.
B. If any person whose name or other identification has been used without his consent or authorization by another person who has been charged or arrested using such name or identification, he may file a petition with the court disposing of the charge for relief pursuant to this section.
C. The petition with a copy of the warrant or indictment if reasonably available shall be filed in the circuit court of the county or city in which the case was disposed of by acquittal or being otherwise dismissed and shall contain, except where not reasonably available, the date of arrest and the name of the arresting agency. Where this information is not reasonably available, the petition shall state the reason for such unavailability. The petition shall further state the specific criminal charge to be expunged, the date of final disposition of the charge as set forth in the petition, the petitioner's date of birth, and the full name used by the petitioner at the time of arrest.
D. A copy of the petition shall be served on the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county in which the petition is filed. The attorney for the Commonwealth may file an objection or answer to the petition within twenty-one days after it is served on him.
E. The petitioner shall obtain from a law-enforcement agency one complete set of the petitioner's fingerprints and shall provide that agency with a copy of the petition for expungement. The law-enforcement agency shall submit the set of fingerprints to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) with a copy of the petition for expungement attached. The CCRE shall forward under seal to the court a copy of the petitioner's criminal history, a copy of the source documents that resulted in the CCRE entry that the petitioner wishes to expunge, and the set of fingerprints. Upon completion of the hearing, the court shall return the fingerprint card to the petitioner.
F. After receiving the criminal history record information from the CCRE, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition. If the court finds that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the petitioner causes or may cause circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, it shall enter an order requiring the expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge. Otherwise, it shall deny the petition. However, if the petitioner has no prior criminal record and the arrest was for a misdemeanor violation, the petitioner shall be entitled, in the absence of good cause shown to the contrary by the Commonwealth, to expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge, and the court shall enter an order of expungement.
G. The Commonwealth shall be made party defendant to the proceeding. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the court may appeal, as provided by law in civil cases.
H. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, when the charge is dismissed because the court finds that the person arrested or charged is not the person named in the summons, warrant, indictment or presentment, the court dismissing the charge shall, upon motion of the person improperly arrested or charged, enter an order requiring expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge. Such order shall contain a statement that the dismissal and expungement are ordered pursuant to this subsection. Upon the entry of such order, it shall be treated as provided in subsection I hereof.
I. Upon the entry of an order of expungement, the clerk of the court shall cause a copy of such order to be forwarded to the Department of State Police, which shall, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted pursuant to � 9.1-134, direct the manner by which the appropriate expungement or removal of such records shall be effected.
J. Costs shall be as provided by � 17.1-275, but shall not be recoverable against the Commonwealth.
A. If a person is charged with the commission of a crime and
1. Is acquitted, or
2. A nolle prosequi is taken or the charge is otherwise dismissed, including dismissal by accord and satisfaction pursuant to � 19.2-151, or
3. Is granted an absolute pardon for the commission of a crime for which he has been unjustly convicted, he may file a petition setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge.
B. If any person whose name or other identification has been used without his consent or authorization by another person who has been charged or arrested using such name or identification, he may file a petition with the court disposing of the charge for relief pursuant to this section.
C. The petition with a copy of the warrant or indictment if reasonably available shall be filed in the circuit court of the county or city in which the case was disposed of by acquittal or being otherwise dismissed and shall contain, except where not reasonably available, the date of arrest and the name of the arresting agency. Where this information is not reasonably available, the petition shall state the reason for such unavailability. The petition shall further state the specific criminal charge to be expunged, the date of final disposition of the charge as set forth in the petition, the petitioner's date of birth, and the full name used by the petitioner at the time of arrest.
D. A copy of the petition shall be served on the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county in which the petition is filed. The attorney for the Commonwealth may file an objection or answer to the petition within twenty-one days after it is served on him.
E. The petitioner shall obtain from a law-enforcement agency one complete set of the petitioner's fingerprints and shall provide that agency with a copy of the petition for expungement. The law-enforcement agency shall submit the set of fingerprints to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) with a copy of the petition for expungement attached. The CCRE shall forward under seal to the court a copy of the petitioner's criminal history, a copy of the source documents that resulted in the CCRE entry that the petitioner wishes to expunge, and the set of fingerprints. Upon completion of the hearing, the court shall return the fingerprint card to the petitioner.
F. After receiving the criminal history record information from the CCRE, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition. If the court finds that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the petitioner causes or may cause circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, it shall enter an order requiring the expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge. Otherwise, it shall deny the petition. However, if the petitioner has no prior criminal record and the arrest was for a misdemeanor violation, the petitioner shall be entitled, in the absence of good cause shown to the contrary by the Commonwealth, to expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge, and the court shall enter an order of expungement.
G. The Commonwealth shall be made party defendant to the proceeding. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the court may appeal, as provided by law in civil cases.
H. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, when the charge is dismissed because the court finds that the person arrested or charged is not the person named in the summons, warrant, indictment or presentment, the court dismissing the charge shall, upon motion of the person improperly arrested or charged, enter an order requiring expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge. Such order shall contain a statement that the dismissal and expungement are ordered pursuant to this subsection. Upon the entry of such order, it shall be treated as provided in subsection I hereof.
I. Upon the entry of an order of expungement, the clerk of the court shall cause a copy of such order to be forwarded to the Department of State Police, which shall, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted pursuant to � 9.1-134, direct the manner by which the appropriate expungement or removal of such records shall be effected.
J. Costs shall be as provided by � 17.1-275, but shall not be recoverable against the Commonwealth.
01-26-2010, 05:39 AM
#5
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Posts: 2,273
Originally Posted by vagabond
This is the statute that governs your case.
Just re-read your post. I think that since you pled guilty, that complicates matters. The statute clearly says expungement is available to you if you were acquitted or a nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) was taken. Pleading guilty is the opposite of these two situations.
Just re-read your post. I think that since you pled guilty, that complicates matters. The statute clearly says expungement is available to you if you were acquitted or a nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) was taken. Pleading guilty is the opposite of these two situations.
atp
01-26-2010, 09:22 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 19
yup, that seems to be the "commonwealth" way of doing things. Can't wait to get out of Virginia. Not saying that getting the misdemeanor was the commonwealth's fault, its just extremely less lenient than other areas of the country. and whats with all the potholes!?
01-27-2010, 04:35 AM
#8
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Posts: 826
Originally Posted by mshunter
Does it even matter? I heard that the FBI keeps this all on file, and you can't expunge FBI records. And most employers do an FBI background check right?
How practically effective that really is is a pretty important question.
01-27-2010, 06:54 PM
#9
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Posts: 2,273
Originally Posted by mshunter
Does it even matter? I heard that the FBI keeps this all on file, and you can't expunge FBI records. And most employers do an FBI background check right?
The only way that would happen is that the offense was never reported to the FBI, however, as I understand it, all misdemeanors and felonies are reported to the Feds regardless of the classification i.e., first degree, second degree etc.
atp
02-05-2010, 04:16 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by atpwannabe
I beg to differ. Trust me on this one!
The only way that would happen is that the offense was never reported to the FBI, however, as I understand it, all misdemeanors and felonies are reported to the Feds regardless of the classification i.e., first degree, second degree etc.
atp
The only way that would happen is that the offense was never reported to the FBI, however, as I understand it, all misdemeanors and felonies are reported to the Feds regardless of the classification i.e., first degree, second degree etc.
atp
I don't think I am following........
It sounds like you are agreeing with me, but you start with you beg to differ?
Can you expung FBI records?
Or are you talking about your jib checking only state records?
I'm lost.
