Clean Slate Expungements in New Jersey

Expungements in New Jersey can be complicated and not easy to get. You need gather all sorts of detailed information on your criminal record. In addition, there are limits to the types of offenses that can be wiped out and the number of them that you can have.

To make matters worse, there are also different waiting periods for the different types before you can expunge them. For example:

Indictable Crime and Up to 3 Disorderly Persons: 5 Years
Disorderly Persons Only (Up to 5): 5 years
Municipal Ordinance Violations: 2 years
Entire Juvenile Record: 3 years
Supervised treatment programs, Conditional Discharges, & Conditional Dismissal: 6 months

But what if you have a mixed bag of offenses (such as more than one indictable crime conviction and/or more than 3 disorderly person’s offenses)? Can you ever get rid of them?

Yes, you can! Under New Jersey's “clean slate” provision, you may be eligible to expunge an entire record of arrests and convictions! The only catch? You have to wait ten years after your most recent conviction, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole or release from prison, whichever comes later, just like the waiting periods listed above.

The good news here is that there are no limits on the number of offenses or types that can be expunged; that's the idea of a clean slate. The bad news is, it isn't expanded to more offenses that were previously unavailable. If you have any of those convictions, they cannot be expunged and you will not be eligible.

The same involved procedure of traditional expungement also applies also for clean slate expungement. For example, you must prepare and file a verified petition with the court, serve it on required parties, and provide the court with proof of service. After the court develops and implements an automated process for these expungements, petitions will no longer be accepted.

If you are looking to expunge some arrests and/or convictions in your past in the Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem or Cumberland County, area, have decided that you need an expungement and are ready to take action, then call me right away at 856-432-4113 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation in my Woodbury office. Don’t let your past hold you back from a better future!