Having a criminal record, even if the crime occurred many years ago, can have devastating effects on your future plans, specifically when applying for jobs or residence. It doesn’t matter if you were just arrested or actually convicted, this incident will appear on background checks performed by both potential employers and landlords for the rest of your life. This is a scary notion, especially when the crime or arrest was extremely uncharacteristic and strictly a onetime occurrence.
Fortunately, there is a way to “erase” some criminal records from your files. After going through the proper process, you can have your record expunged or sealed. In most states, the specifics can vary state by state, this means that a hiring employer or potential landlord would no longer see the expunged crime on any and all background checks. Thus, relieving you from the fear that you will not get hired, or accepted for a lease, due to a tainted screening.
Help! My Expungement is Still Showing Up!
Unfortunately, just like credit reports, background checks and employment screenings can have errors. Even if you went through the whole expungement process and were able to successfully expunge any past crime on your record, this instance can still show up. Ahhhh!
With the advent of the internet, there are so many detective and investigative agencies out there that could be pulling your criminal history. Many companies use sites like these to run employment screenings and background checks on people just like you. Although your expungement will remove your conviction from any police or local court search, the news or notification of your recent expungement may not have been noted by the many other detective type companies on the web.
So what can you do? When you get a crime expunged from your records, you should scour the internet for your criminal history for any data on your crime. If you come across a record of your crime, immediately contact that company and give them notification of your judicial order of expungement to have that crime removed from their records. If this is happening to you, you may be entitled to damages. Get a Free Case Review in seconds and avoid any errors in future background screenings.
An employer or landlord must disclose to you if you are denied or rejected because of a negative item on your background check. If this happens because of a previously expunged crime, we can help you get your records corrected and possibly earn you warranted damages.