For security and safety reasons, many employers now conduct background checks on potential employees. Background checks help one determine whether the applicant has a history of violence or any arrest. Although the reason is understandable, this leaves applicants with previous arrest records at a disadvantage especially if the California criminal records indicate that they have arrests or charges filed against them even though the charges were dropped. With that said applicants who have previous arrest records may file a petition to have these records sealed and destroyed.
Under the California Penal Code section 851.8, which deals with the sealing and destruction of criminal records, the applicant may file a petition to the law enforcement agency who served the arrest to seal and destroy the records. Should the applicant be able to provide evidences or proofs that he/she is factually innocent; the law enforcement may seal and destroy the records within 3 years from the date of the arrest. The law office that has jurisdiction over the case will have to inform the DOJ as well as other law enforcement agencies who are involved of the approval. The DOJ and the other law enforcement agencies will then destroy their own copies of the arrest records.
Some delays may occur in the processing; however, petitioners should follow up with the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction of the case, as under the Penal Code, should the law agency fail to respond within sixty days of receipt of the petition, the petition is deemed as denied.
For petitioners who have their request denied, they can file the petition with the higher court that has jurisdiction of the matter. The court will then send the petition request to the respective law agency to attend a hearing set by the court. The petitioner has the burden of proof in determining their innocence of the arrest. Should the court find that the petitioner is innocent of the arrest; the court would then order all the records to be destroyed. The court will also issue an order to the DOJ and other involved parties to seal and destroy their copies of the arrest. The court will give a copy of the order to the petitioner, which includes the court's decision.
Note that not all cases will be "sealed and destroyed" by the court order, as the order will only apply to the case petitioned. For the petitioner to be eligible for the sealing and destruction of records he/she must - (a.) have not been charged with any case (b.) have the case dismissed and (c.) have a case filed but dismissed by jury trial. Note that petitioners convicted of any crime are not eligible for the "sealed and destroyed" as indicated in the Penal Code.
To determine whether one has criminal records ca, doing a background check on oneself can help one learn about the arrest records filed against them. There are several public record search companies available online which offer this service free that one can avail.
Under the California Penal Code section 851.8, which deals with the sealing and destruction of criminal records, the applicant may file a petition to the law enforcement agency who served the arrest to seal and destroy the records. Should the applicant be able to provide evidences or proofs that he/she is factually innocent; the law enforcement may seal and destroy the records within 3 years from the date of the arrest. The law office that has jurisdiction over the case will have to inform the DOJ as well as other law enforcement agencies who are involved of the approval. The DOJ and the other law enforcement agencies will then destroy their own copies of the arrest records.
Some delays may occur in the processing; however, petitioners should follow up with the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction of the case, as under the Penal Code, should the law agency fail to respond within sixty days of receipt of the petition, the petition is deemed as denied.
For petitioners who have their request denied, they can file the petition with the higher court that has jurisdiction of the matter. The court will then send the petition request to the respective law agency to attend a hearing set by the court. The petitioner has the burden of proof in determining their innocence of the arrest. Should the court find that the petitioner is innocent of the arrest; the court would then order all the records to be destroyed. The court will also issue an order to the DOJ and other involved parties to seal and destroy their copies of the arrest. The court will give a copy of the order to the petitioner, which includes the court's decision.
Note that not all cases will be "sealed and destroyed" by the court order, as the order will only apply to the case petitioned. For the petitioner to be eligible for the sealing and destruction of records he/she must - (a.) have not been charged with any case (b.) have the case dismissed and (c.) have a case filed but dismissed by jury trial. Note that petitioners convicted of any crime are not eligible for the "sealed and destroyed" as indicated in the Penal Code.
To determine whether one has criminal records ca, doing a background check on oneself can help one learn about the arrest records filed against them. There are several public record search companies available online which offer this service free that one can avail.
About the Author:
Want to conduct a Arrest Records California search? We can help you with detailed information and pointers. Visit us at Free Criminal Records Online.. This article, Arrest Records California is available for free reprint.
No comments:
Post a Comment