The following is a video transcript.

I would like to talk to you today about expungement. Expungement is the legal process of moving a public record about a certain person from public access into a private file that is only accessible for view by law enforcement and law enforcement officials, such as prosecutors.

You want to have this done if you get into a deferred sentence that is either a misdemeanor or a felony that qualifies for the expungement treatment, so that the deferred sentence does not create a bias against you if you are seeking employment, if you are seeking housing, or if you are trying to get a concealed carry permit or buy a firearm. If you should apply for a concealed carry permit, the OSBI will conduct a background check on you.

Let me give you an example. If you are on, say, a five-year deferred, there will be a public record accessible to the OSBI that will state, “Pled guilty, five-year deferred.” Well, that’s a very negative sort of thing. Your concealed carry permit application will be automatically turned down. If on the other hand you get an expungement that is successful, the same record will read, “Pled not guilty, dismissed.” Therefore, OSBI will have the most positive kind of record to deal with and could decide to issue you a concealed carry permit.

If you have questions about this or other matters, do not hesitate to call U.S. LawShield and ask to speak to an Independent Program Attorney.