Expunging your record

[landarch]

Does anyone have any experience with having your criminal records expunged, esp. in NJ?

I have the possibility of interviewing for a state job, the one that I gave up my old career for, went to three years of school to get a 2nd degree for, and was just hoping against hope that this job would be available when I was done. Now, I find out last week that it is available and I am super excited.

Problem is, there is a question on the standard state job application that inquires about offenses that have not been expunged from your record, of which I have one.

About 12 years ago, before I was a resident of NJ, I got pulled over, searched, and arrested for a small amount of marijuana in a motor vehicle. I went to court, pled guilty, and paid my fine ( about $1000 total). No loss of license or anything, and it hasn't come back to haunt me ever again. The jobs I have held since didn't require me to bring this up and I mostly forgot about it until I read the question on the application that suddenly brought this back to the forefront.

I have no intention of lying on the application, but am hoping to at least be able to say on the application something to the effect of "expungement pending, paperwork filed on xx date". Also, language I have seen online leads me to hope that I can note this on the application as a disorderly persons charge without being more specific than that. I will be putting out a call to an attorney (blindly pointing to one in the yellow pages, I guess, I've never used an attorney before) tomorrow. Anyone have this problem before? How much does something like this usually cost? How long does it take? Thanks!

[Snacks]

interesting question. there are lawyers on here i hope they can help you, im interested to see how that is done and the cost.

[ChimneyFish]

I don't know about NJ. but mine(in PA), if I remember correctly was aroung $800.

I didn't pay it, that's why I don't remember what the exact figure was.

[topless_mike]

might it be felony?
if so, that amount of bud would have been a mis-demenor, and would not have to be accounted for on an application.

[landarch]

Thank goodness it's no felony. I called the atty. today and he said I should get the record from the town, which I did. It was in 1997, but they found it right away. The atty. said that the background check tools they use will find it right away, so my bet is that it's safer to get it expunged anyway and that since it was taken care of in municipal court, it could be listed as a disorderly persons charge. He also said that it takes 4 months to go thorugh the system and be completed, and it would cost about $1100. Damn.

I'm doing it anyway, because I never know what may come in the future.

[Snacks]

what about NY how do you get a class d misdemor off your record?

[landarch]

I just read an online NY Times article that suggests that expungement in the days of digital record keeping can be a waste of time, since most corporations rely on private record checking companies that may or may not update and reflect the expungement. It tells stories of people that went throught the trouble and expense only for their records (although expunged by the state) to still reflect their convictions, therefore costing them jobs, housing, promotions, etc.

I think it's worth the risk anyway, at least in my case.

[Servo]

what about NY how do you get a class d misdemor off your record?

No such thing as a class D misdemeanor in NY, only A & B.

Regardless, you can't get a misdemeanor off your record... it's a criminal conviction and it's pretty much on there for good. Violations - like disorderly conduct - are not criminal convictions and are "expungeable," but I think you're stuck with a misdemeanor.

[KC2OSO]

Just interested. If I may ask, what's the job you are applying for?

Douchebag=> Cor$ine told us he was cutting jobs/spending/slack.

NJ is closing state parks like High Point and others, killing the NJ Department of Agriculture, cutting public programs all over, yet there is a fucking hiring bonanza here. WTF?!?

[jonyrotn]

what about NY how do you get a class d misdemor off your record?
Die..

No sucNo such thing as a class D misdemeanor in NY, only A & B.

Regardless, you can't get a misdemeanor off your record... it's a criminal conviction and it's pretty much on there for good. Violations - like disorderly conduct - are not criminal convictions and are "expungeable," but I think you're stuck with a misdemeanor.

The felony thing is completely false..

For you to have been charged with a MISD. you would have had to be smoking in public view or have had a shit load of pot..But even if you were charged with a MISD, by an SS officer..If you pled guilty to anything more then discon. it would have been a tragedy..If you somehow got "stuck with a misdemeanor" your lawyer should be disbarred..

[Snacks]

No such thing as a class D misdemeanor in NY, only A & B.

Regardless, you can't get a misdemeanor off your record... it's a criminal conviction and it's pretty much on there for good. Violations - like disorderly conduct - are not criminal convictions and are "expungeable," but I think you're stuck with a misdemeanor.

i just looked it up and you are correct. maybe i was thinking a d was a mis but a d is a felony.

[SilentSpic]

At the age of 17 I was arrested which I plaid guilty under one condition, if I stayed out of trouble my record will be expunged. Since then I have held at least 4 new jobs. On all, I stated that I was never arrested. I even had a job which required them to do a background check, even arrests, and nothing. So expunge should conceal your ugly past.

[landarch]

Just interested. If I may ask, what's the job you are applying for?

Douchebag=> Cor$ine told us he was cutting jobs/spending/slack.

NJ is closing state parks like High Point and others, killing the NJ Department of Agriculture, cutting public programs all over, yet there is a fucking hiring bonanza here. WTF?!?

Junior Landscape Architect. I believe it is in response to several retirements. I'm not too sure how they are making it happen but there is more than one opening. Something about creative maneuvering within the department. Planting and design of highway medians, interchanges, and the like. Also working with other state agencies on such things. Good stuff with a pension and benefits