With competition for jobs as fierce as ever and an increasing amount of employers requiring job applicants to submit to background checks, it is vital to have a “clean record.” Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Staycie R. Sena can help you clear your criminal record if you have been convicted of a crime.
Terminating Your Probation Early
If you are having difficulties getting a job or finding a place to live because you are on active probation, Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Staycie R. Sena may be able to help you get your probation terminated early, even though the original period (3, 4, or 5 years) that you accepted, has not fully passed.
Expungements
An expungement allows you to truthfully answer that you have never been convicted of a crime. If you have a criminal conviction on your record, you may be eligible to have that conviction erased, despite the amount of time since the conviction. Expungements allow an individual to withdraw a “guilty” plea and enter a “not guilty” plea in its place. The case then shows as “dismissed.” Individuals who have gone to state prison are not eligible for expungements.
Even though an expungement allows some agencies to still see that a conviction occurred (such as law enforcement, immigration, and licensing agencies), it is still valuable and can make the difference between employment and unemployment.
Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Staycie R. Sena has successfully handled hundreds of expungements. Call her office for an appointment to discuss your criminal record.
Certificates of Rehabilitation
A Certificate of Rehabilitation is an official document that declares that an individual has been “rehabilitated,” i.e., obeys all laws and demonstrates good moral character. A Certificate of Rehabilitation restores civil and political rights that were taken away when an individual was convicted. Getting a Certificate of Rehabilitation is the ONLY way to end an individual’s obligation to register as a sex offender. Certificates of Rehabilitation cannot be pursued before a case has been successfully expunged.
Once a Certificate of Rehabilitation has been granted, the court clerk should immediately send a certified copy of the certificate to the Governor as an automatic application for a full pardon. Furthermore, once the certificate has been granted, the court should immediately report it to the Department of Justice.
Unfortunately, individuals convicted of certain sex offenses or who are serving mandatory life parole are not eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation.
Only a couple of Certificates of Rehabilitation for registered sex offenders have ever been granted in Orange County. In 2009, Ms. Sena was successful in getting her client’s Certificate of Rehabilitation granted. Those clients are free from the obligation to register. Call Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Staycie R. Sena to discuss your criminal conviction(s) and the possibility of a Certificate of Rehabilitation.
Pardons
If granted a pardon by the Governor’s office, convicted felons are able to have many of their civil and political rights restored.
If you wish to apply for a pardon or clear your criminal record, please contact Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Staycie R. Sena today to discuss your options.
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