need help deciding?

Question

I live in Houston, TX. For erasing items on a persons criminal record, I know there are expungions, non-disclosure, and sealing records. I would like to clear up my record, for job search purposes so I will pass a criminal history check. I have 2 dismissals - they were dismissed in court with no fines or court costs having to be paid. One was last week (misd) and one was about 3 years ago. I also have one misd. deferred adjutication from 3 years ago that was dismissed early because I finished my community service a lot earlier. Here's my question. I only have enough money to expunge, have a non-disclosure, or seal (whichever term is appropriate) only one of these. Would it be best to do the deferred adj., since the others were dismissed? I just want to pass the criminal history check for jobs right now. I will eventually try to have them all exposed of, but can only afford one now.

Answer 1

The dismissals will not show up on your record

And since it sounds like most of the charges have been dismissed, the only one you have to worry about is the conviction.

But I think you have to wait a certain period of time before it can be sealed and since you say it was last week this may be a problem.

Are you sure you have been convicted of a crime?

Because if you have only been charged with the crime, it will not show up on your record until you are convicted.

If this were the case, your money would be better spent fighting the conviction.

You can go to the courthouse and inquire about this or talk to legal aid.

Good Luck!

I hope this helps

Answer 2

Most employers will ask on an application if you were "Convicted" of a crime/felony. A lot of them ask if it was within the past 7 years.
The dismissals probably won't show up. While I believe we all deserve a second chance if we've truly learned from our mistakes, you are trying to erase your history, but you can't erase what you did. I find honesty a lot easier to work with than a "cover-up job". Employers are people, too. Believe it or not, some of them have made mistakes, too. A lot of times they will look at what you've done lately to better yourself as well as the circumstances surrounding the trouble you've been in. A lot depends on what you did to get into trouble.
I have turned down employment to someone convicted of beating his girlfriend's children. I have hired someone with an old DUI. I turned down someone with a recent drug conviction because not enough time had passed, but hired someone who shoplifted once when they were a teenager. Get my drift?
Good luck!