Expunction / Record Clearing Lawyer in Dallas

Expunction _ Record Clearing Lawyer in Dallas

Being convicted of a crime will likely come with a number of court-ordered penalties, but even long after one’s obligations and penalties have been fulfilled, an individual with a criminal record might find themselves facing extreme prejudice and significant hardship. Many find that educational, financial, and career opportunities are closed to them because of their criminal record, and in some instances, those who were accused but found not guilty are still hindered by the stigma that a criminal charge can bring. Many people may not know, but you may actually be able to get your record cleared or sealed, allowing you to move forward with your life. If you need to remove a criminal charge or conviction from your permanent record, contact the Dallas expunction lawyers at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter by calling (214) 845-7007.

The team of experienced Dallas criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter have been serving and defending clients in the Dallas area who have been accused of crimes for over 12 years. We have built a reputation for getting results and vigorously representing the interests of our clients. Esteemed by peers and clients alike, we have been consistently named as Texas Super Lawyers, and have an AVVO rating of 10, among other accolades.

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we understand that rebuilding your life after being accused or convicted of a crime can be extremely difficult as you may face various prejudices from members of your community that make it hard for you to move on with your life.

Fortunately, for some individuals, there may be a way to wipe the slate clean and keep a criminal charge or even a conviction from continuing to affect their life through the process of expunction. At Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, we know how difficult it can be for Dallas residents who have criminal records or charges in their past. If you need help moving forward from your past and expunging or sealing your criminal record, contact the Dallas expunction and criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to schedule a free initial consultation by calling (214) 845-7007 or filling out a contact form online.

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    How Our Dallas Expunction Attorneys Can Help

    In the state of Texas, there are many different legal ways that you can keep a criminal record from affecting your life, including the following:

    • Expunction: If an individual is found not guilty, or is acquitted, of a criminal offense, he or she may be able to have the charge permanently removed from their record
    • Non-Disclosure: If an individual has been convicted of a criminal offense, he or she may be able to have his or her record sealed, allowing them to legally not disclose the prior arrest/conviction on a large number of official documents

    With the help of an experienced expunction attorney, you could be able to put the incident behind you by clearing your criminal record through expunction or by filing for non-disclosure.

    What Is Expunction of a Criminal Record?

    Expunction is a legal process whereby an individual with a criminal record gets their record cleared, which includes removal of records associated with an arrest, a charge, a court case, a deferred disposition, and a case dismissal. When an individual’s record is expunged, the is no record for individuals in the public to find, and the release or dissemination of those records is prohibited by any agency.

    Furthermore, unless the party whose records were expunged is being questioned under oath, they do not have to disclose the history of a criminal record or the fact that their record was expunged. If an individual with an expunged record is being questioned under oath, all they may have to say is that there was a cleared record, but they do not have to go into detail about the criminal activity or the expunction thereof.

    Under Texas expunction law, an individual may have their criminal record expunged for the following reasons:

    • They were arrested but not charged with a crime or found not guilty of a crime
    • They were later acquitted of the crime
    • They were pardoned
    • The offense occurred when the individual was a juvenile, and the offense was:
      • a misdemeanor committed prior to age 17 and was punishable by a fine;
      • a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Code by a minor; or
      • a violation by a minor of the Education Code for failure to attend school
    • They were found guilty of a Class C misdemeanor but received a deferred adjudication and completed the agreed to terms of their punishment. Some examples of Class C misdemeanors include the following:
      • Theft of less than $100 or something valued less than $100
      • Public intoxication
      • Disorderly conduct
      • Driving without a valid drivers license

    A deferred adjudication is a type of plea deal whereby the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to criminal charges in exchange for meeting certain requirements set forth by the court. The court may order that the defendant goes for treatment, does community service, serves a probationary period, or does some other type of diversion program. Upon completion of the court’s demands, the defendant may be able to avoid a conviction or have the charges against them dismissed.

    To have your criminal record expunged, you will need to apply separately for each offense on your record. Some requests for expunction can be approved, while others are denied.

    If an individual is found guilty or pleaded guilty or no contest to any other type of crime than a Class C misdemeanor, their record may not be eligible for expunction, but their record may be eligible for non-disclosure if they received deferred adjudication.

    What Is Non-Disclosure of a Criminal Record?

    Non-disclosure is an option for individuals with a criminal record who are not eligible for expunction. Unlike an expunction (which clears your criminal record), non-disclosure leaves your criminal record as it is but makes it completely inaccessible to the public. However, certain public agencies may still be able to access your criminal record.

    Non-disclosure is available to individuals who have completed all terms of their deferred adjudication. Under Texas law, an individual with a criminal record, including misdemeanors, can seek to have their record sealed as soon as they complete their deferred adjudications. It is important to note that individuals with a felony on their record must wait at least five years to have their record sealed. For each crime on your criminal record that you are seeking to have sealed, you must apply separately. Some crimes may be approved for non-disclosure, while others may be denied.

    There are some crimes that are never eligible for non-disclosure, including the following:

    • Sexual assault
    • Indecency with a child
    • Prohibited sexual conduct
    • Unlawful pornography, including child pornography
    • Kidnapping or unlawful restraint of a person under 17 years of age
    • Aggravated kidnapping
    • Entering the dwelling place of another with the intent to commit one of the above-listed crimes
    • Violation of a protective order
    • Family violence
    • Stalking
    • Abandoning or endangering the life of a child
    • Injuring a child, elderly, or disabled person
    • Murder and capital murder
    • Attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above-listed crimes

    Determining whether you are eligible to have your criminal history sealed and understanding what the process is for non-disclosure is confusing and requires a deep knowledge of the law. Likewise, understanding the process and eligibility requirements for expunction can be challenging for the average person. In circumstances where you are seeking to have your criminal record expunged or sealed, it is best to contact an experienced expunction attorney like those at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter.

    The benefits of having a clean record are innumerable, so if you are facing a criminal charge or you have been convicted in the past, take action today to find out if a record-clearing expunction is an available option for you. The compassionate attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter will be happy to sit down with, examine the details of your record, and advise you on the best plan of action moving forward.

    Contact an Expunction Lawyer in Dallas

    The legal team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter knows just how much a clean criminal record can impact your future, and as such, we want to explore every possible avenue that is available to you. Our team of compassionate and experienced criminal defense and expunction attorneys have been helping people in the Dallas area for over a decade. You can trust that we will work diligently to help you get your criminal record expunged. Learn more about your options for clearing your record today by calling (214) 845-7007.

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    TESTIMONIALS

    Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

    - Name Redacted

    dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

    - Name Redacted

    Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

    - Susan Ellis

    unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

    - Daniel

    I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

    - Cory M.
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