Remove Court Data online can cause serious reputation harm
Be honest, being involved with a court case generally isn’t much fun for anyone or anyone involved.
Regardless of the legal outcome of the case, the court record of your involvement in the court case is public record and can chase your reputation around for years, if not a lifetime if you do not do something about it.
Dozens of data-aggregate sites are collecting and publishing public court records on the Web, only to publish that data in ways that greatly increase is easier to read and search.
Court records create a negative association with whomever they’re tied to. If you’ve ever been involved in a court case, no matter how many years ago, your online reputation could be suffering every day it exists online. Court records can be removed from the internet and we can restore your privacy and protect you and your family’s reputation.
Remove Court Records fast and effectively, allowing you to regain control over your online image and regain privacy as soon as possible.
Public Records Are Here To Stay… Or Are They?
Public records are nothing new, however, the amount of accessibility and volume of knowledge aggregators online present modern issues.
In the past, a person would physically visit an office and/or submit a proper request to access this sort of knowledge.
In all chance there would be multiple offices, buildings and requests concerned.
Online “personal info brokerages” of these days, take away all of the bureaucratic procedure and legwork accustomed to producing a natural barrier. Currently, with the press of a button, anyone will access all of this information instantly without leaving home.
This is what typically makes individuals most uncomfortable. It’s additionally what makes understanding the way to take away public records off the internet.
EraseMugshots is a company set up with a particular goal in mind: to enable people to get rid of their online arrest records and mugshots and protect their reputation. We do this legally, understanding that these records will always be a matter of public access, but believing that they should not be accessible by anybody with an internet connection.
Hence, while we cannot remove them from the databases of government records or of the courthouses, we can remove them from the internet and help protect your reputation.
1,900 Satisfied Customers and Counting
The company has proudly announced that it has already been successful in helping 1,900 customers. Indeed, our company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we have never had a case in which they couldn’t provide the service.
We offer a quick, effective, and private solution to ensure that people’s good reputation is not destroyed by past mistakes that can be accessed online. We are fully open and transparent about their methods, which are completely above board, and our goal is complete satisfaction for each of their clients, which they have now achieved 1,900 times.
For their 1,900 satisfied customers, a total of 16,139 files about them were removed, which is an impressive number of nearly 10 files per person.
EraseMugshots’ staff are all highly professional and experienced in all things about the internet, which has enabled them to achieve what is required of them. In fact, between them, they have over 230 years of combined experience.
The Process to Protect Your Reputation
To remove clients’ mugshots and arrest records, the company starts by completing a full web presence analysis. This will allow us to determine which files are available online so that they know where to start working on and never miss a file.
Once we know where we have to work on, Erase Mugshots professionals will start to get rid of the different arrest records. Our team offers a total removal solution, which means that once the records are gone, they are gone for good. One of the reasons why we have been able to have so many happy customers is because we guarantee to achieve this within 72 hours.
Once those records have been removed, EraseMugshots gets to work on cleaning up the search engines, namely Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. We do this by contacting them directly, requesting that any remaining traces of the records, including links and images, are removed from their search engine.
This ensures that they can no longer be found through historic internet searches as well.
What Differentiates EraseMugShots from Others
There are many companies that promise to protect your reputation the same way as EraseMugshots. However, what sets us apart is their 100% satisfaction guarantee. Further, we offer affordable monthly payment plans.
And, at all times, we offer a service that is very effective and very quick, and always 100% private.
All 1,900 customers can attest to the fact that links to mugshot and arrest record sources have been fully eliminated. This means that those records are now impossible to find it online.
The key result is that customer privacy and reputation are completely restored. Indeed, once something is truly removed from the internet, it will be as if it never existed. This allows people to get back their lives and protect their reputation or the long haul.
It has been said that once something is on the internet, it can never be removed, but this is not entirely true. By focusing on search engine removal, rather than reverse search engine optimization (SEO), where links are simply pushed down in the search results, EraseMugshots ensures that a file is truly removed from the internet, never to be found again.
We do this by putting search engine results in second place. First, they terminate the actual websites that the mugshots or arrest records were on or at least the page. Once that has been completed, they simply ask the search engines to update their records so the information can longer be found.
What our clients have been particularly satisfied with, is that we offer long-term results. Once files have been removed and the process has been completed, files have never returned at a later stage.
This is because EraseMugshots offers a total removal solution, rather than simply hiding something or pushing it back. The importance of achieving this for individuals is as huge as finding this type of negative information online. This could make it difficult for them to find a job or a relationship, or to build customers for their own business.
Have a damaged reputation in 2021? Here’s a look at what you can do to turn things around.
Owning a business has its ups and downs. Hiring the right people to represent your company can be a very tedious task. You must exhaust all your time and energy into training these individuals which pulls you away from your own work.
Make sure you are employing the right people based on merit and who is the best fit. Hiring on a gut decision or to “help out a friend” has more negatives than positives in the long run. You have worked hard to create your brand, be careful about who you let in, as the consequences could be dire.
Having to let an employee go is never easy. The backlash of what could happen can be detrimental, leading to a damaged reputation that costs you money.
All it takes is a single review on Glassdoor or Google My Business to severely hinder performance.
First-impressions have left the building. Everyone turns to review sites as a “tell-all” source for answers to their questions. 50% of the time when an employee leaves an organization they will talk about it online (positive or negative).
Make sure you are carefully monitoring your online reputation so you know right away. Many top prospects may be deterred after researching your company and seeing an ex-employee talking negatively about the management.
In a study done by inc.com, Craig Bloem discusses how 84 percent of individuals trust online review platforms as much as they trust their friends. Of that 84%, over half of them will make their decision right then and there.
Only after reading the first 4-6 reviews, they have developed a strong “understanding” of how you operate. (Read more)
Satisfaction Surveys
One of the best things you can do apart from generating reviews is gaining a general sense of how your customers feel. After a purchase is made simply email a customer satisfaction survey to each customer.
They may not all give you their feedback but some will. Being proactive is a great characteristic to have. People who notice you care more will appreciate you on a higher level, regardless if you have negative reviews online.
The best part about these surveys that is they are NOT public. You can read the feedback before publishing it on your website. This helps to limit the damaged reputation while still providing constructive criticism at the same time.
Bad Reviews are Opportunities to Repair a Damaged Reputation, NOT Problems
When it comes to your damaged reputation, make sure you are being proactive.
What is the point of gaining feedback if you are not taking action to resolve those issues? Needless to say, be careful about how you respond to negative feedback.
There is nothing worse than reading an argument between a client/ex-employee and the company. This shows other prospects you offer an inadequate service.
Ex-employees May Target Your Company
Everyone has the ability to hide behind a computer monitor and vent their opinion and feelings about the world. Many enjoy reading these, but as a business owner, these are your worst nightmare.
With this “internet review” trend that is rapidly growing, disgruntled employees are free to post carelessly online. Disgruntled employees are the leading cause of many companies’ damaged reputation.
As an employee at a company, be careful who you associate yourself with. Your cube-mate today could be your worst enemy in months to come. Only allow trustworthy colleagues to leave recommendations on your LinkedIn.
Linkedin houses over 400 million profiles, it is the Mecca of professional social platforms. If your company utilizes recruiters on LinkedIn, negative reviews may leave you wondering how you cannot find any reputable candidates.
What if you have a Damaged Reputation?
First of all, keep calm and think logically. Do not react out of anger because the world will see it. When attempting to rectify a damaged reputation online simply present the facts and admit guilt when you are at fault.
Regardless if others do not agree with you, taking responsibility has a positive impact.
If you feel like you are being targeted under false pretense there are some steps you can take to fix it. Sites like Google and LinkedIn will work with you if you can provide proof. When a fictitious review is posted there are a few things Google can do to validate that account.
Say that is the only review that person has ever left. Google may deindex or even remove the review as they view it as defamatory (again only if you can provide proof).
It can be very overwhelming trying to deal with a bad review while maintaining your business.
If you are struggling to have a fictitious review removed or even a news article you deem liable we can help. Our knowledgeable team of ORM strategists will ensure a successful suppression/removal of this negative feedback.
Online reputation is no joke and should never be taken lightly. It WILL NOT fix itself.
Generally speaking, online reputation management is everywhere. Whether you are applying for a job, scholarship, college, or even looking for the love of your life, you may be concerned about what others can find out about you online.
As tons of employers and colleges use the web to find information about potential employees or students, anything considered unfavorable can lead to an automatic rejection.
Any negative attribute of the past or misleading information can cost people various opportunities, which is why it is important to manage your online reputation.
Online reputation management permits you to control what others view about you and ensures that you will be able to maintain your positive image on the web.
How Does Online Reputation Management Work?
Online reputation management works similarly to search engine optimization (SEO), but with a few variations. Search engine optimization (SEO) leans more toward marketing and utilizes keywords and phrases that aim for organic website traffic. Bloggers use this tactic to appear first on sites like YouTube or Pinterest.
Search engine reputation management does not take control over one page, but various pages that contain information about you. Instead of focusing solely on ranking, it focuses on what kind of information is located on the first page.
While maintaining your top rankings you can suppress unwanted articles, easily. This permits you to present the best image possible to anyone who Googles your name.
Components of Reputation Management
Online reputation management strategies are all relatively the same but can vary depending on the complexity of the situation.
Nevertheless, here are a few rules that online reputation management follows:
Social Media
Social media accounts usually end up toward the top of the page when it pertains to Googling someone’s name.
Sites like Facebook or Linkedin easily be placed at the top results for your name.
Social media platforms are controlled by you. Nobody else, you are in complete control.
Privacy Protection
Online reputation management strategies include looking out for personal information on the web. Opting out of these background sites will eliminate any chance a future employer will see it.
Remove your mugshots online from sites like BustedNewspaper.com.
Boosting the Right Pages
Avoiding negative pages and comments, responding to positive feedback, and visiting positive pages about you will boost up the information that you want to be seen.
The Importance of ORM
In conclusion, your online reputation lasts forever. As more employers and individuals are coming online, the Internet is becoming the source for finding personal information.
It will save you from the hardships of having a negative online reputation, plain and simple. All in all, give us a call or fill out a contact form to speak with a knowledgeable representative today.
Revenge Porn in 2022 – With the availability of apps such as SnapChat, exchanging pornographic images has become all too easy for anyone with a smartphone. Pornographic images are saved to the individual’s phone and, in most circumstances, do not go any further than that. Although, for others, bitter ex-girlfriends, boyfriends, or even husbands and wives can post the images online as a form of “revenge porn.”
Porn published as a form of revenge is one of the greatest threats to an individual’s online reputation and may very well ruin a person’s life and image. Abstaining from sending pornographic images is the best way to ensure that this never happens, but as revenge porn has grown rapidly with the increase in technology and picture-sharing availability, legislation may take effect. Although this route may be rather lengthy and complex.
Banning the use of revenge porn saves the reputation of individuals who have indulged in illicit video and picture sharing.
FTC vs. Revenge Porn
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action in the past against revenge-based porn sites and creators.
For example, Craig Brittain was a male who would pose as a woman on Craigslist. He would receive payments from users who requested nude photographs of certain people.
In addition, he would post them on his website, to which most of the photos were posted without approval.
Seeking removal? Individuals’ seeking removal are given a form to fill out only to be redirected to a removal site that was owned by Craig as well (which asked for money). Fortunately, the FTC decided to intervene and had the website removed.
It is important to take action. Individuals partaking in revenge porn will not face charges thanks to the FTC.
Repairing Your Reputation
In conclusion, having a damaged reputation is stressful but there are many alternative routes you can take.
Do not stress, there are ways to manage this. Finding out what is online is as easy as Googling yourself.
EraseMugshots offers a FREE ANALYSIS which uncovers all of the website displaying your arrest content online and mugshots.
Due to our 100% risk-free guarantee approach, EM’s removal specialists can have your online reputation back to normal in just 72-hours!
Your past is something most people would like to forget about. We have all made mistakes that have to disrupt our lives. When it comes to obtaining a job or a credit line, your criminal past may come back to haunt you. There are numerous situations in which people may have to undergo a criminal background check or a credit check.
Often, people believe that the bad things they have done in your past will no longer appear because sufficient time has passed. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. What will come upon a background check will depend on a variety of different factors, including:
Who conducts the check
The type of records that they can access
Why they perform a background check
Because police and court records have now been digitized and because it is now often possible to access these records through third party websites, it is possible that anything that happened in someone’s past will be accessible forever.
Your Past Credit History
There are three main credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. The first two play a role when a pre-employment criminal background check occurs, as well as credit and tenant screening.
If a background check occurs as part of employment screening, then the prospective employer must notify the applicant of the intention to perform the check and consent in writing. Some of the information contained on a credit report is time-limited, according to FCRA rules.
For instance, bankruptcies can only appear for 10 years, paid tax liens and civil judgments can only appear for seven years. However, a criminal conviction is unlimited and will appear on a credit file, potentially for life.
Statewide Criminal Background
Individual states collect data from their law enforcement agencies, both at the city and county level. Additionally, anyone who is able to access these files can see the results. Sometimes, it is possible to have your past records expunged. In the first case, it means the information and any remaining hard copies are also completely destroyed.
You would think anything that happened in your past would be deleted, but not so fast.
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
The NCIC supervises the FBI and maintains criminal records from across the country for federal law purposes. Information that is on the NCIC database includes all federal crimes and also state information, which they can voluntarily supply. The NCIC is for law enforcement purposes only, however.
This means that only the FBI and law enforcement officials are able to access it. It is not possible to have any records contained on the NCIC expunged. Those who wish to remove the information contained on it must seek and obtain a presidential pardon.
Your Criminal Past: Differences between States
The FCRA offers people protection but only in relation to their financial records. They do not, therefore, regulate how criminal records are maintained or shared. However, additional protection for people in certain states in order to protect them from credit reporting agencies are available.
Working for Law Enforcement
Across the country, those who wish to work for a law enforcement agency must undergo a more specialized criminal background check. This is because those who wish to work in law enforcement will generally be disqualified if they have a criminal past.
Exactly what criminal convictions automatically lead to disqualification vary by agency and by state. For instance, someone with a felony conviction may never work for the FBI. In Texas, meanwhile, a Class A misdemeanor will automatically disqualify someone for life from becoming licensed as a peace officer.
Juvenile Records
For those who are in the Juvenile Justice System, their records are not automatically expunged. Usually, authorization happens, meaning expungement can occur as soon as someone turns 18.
Delete Your Criminal Past Online
We can help you remove mugshots and arrest records from the web fast. Call
866-601-6803
today to learn more.
Facts About the Mugshot Industry | After an individual is arrested the chances are mugshots and booking information will appear on Google. Many are quick to call this industry a scam and for many reasons.
A lot of small removals “firms” will claim they can remove various types of content online without failure, yet after 2-3 months you start having trouble contacting them and they go M.I.A.
By definition, a scam is a fraudulent business scheme. There are a few websites that have participated in ethical or unlawful acts to better themselves financially. But overall, there are several reputable agencies that can assist you. Read reviews on each company, in addition, make sure the work is 100% guaranteed. Go with a business you trust.
There are no laws protecting the arrestees, unfortunately, as long as the information displayed is still considered public records, these websites are in their legal rights to publish the content (except for a few states). As long as these websites update accordingly and are displaying accurate information there is nothing (legally) you can do to force them to remove it.
“When you think positive, good things happen” -Matt Kemp
After you have uncovered every website online that is actively showing your arrest information you can start by contacting them one by one.
This is either done via email or over the phone. Mostly all of these mugshot publication websites do include a “Contact Us” or “Terms of Use” where they disclose their contact information.
On average, mugshot websites will charge anywhere between $200 to $600 for the removal of a single post. These costs are variable and change monthly depending on the “friendliness” of the site owner.
Overall, the average cost for a total removal (5-10 websites) ranges between $1,000 to $2,5000+ depending on the outcome of the case and severity of the charge(s). You must also take into account where the arrest occurred, each state has different policies.
For example, if you were arrested in the state of Florida you will (90% of the time) be found on at least 6 distinct mugshot publication websites. Florida, along with Texas, North Carolina and Arizona are by far the worst states to get arrested in.
Why?
Because those are the sites where these mugshot websites operate from so the arrestees in that area tend to get hit harder than other states.
What Works and What Does Not?
When it comes to success rates, here at EraseMugshots.com, we pride ourselves on having no negative reviews and a positive BBB rating. Many sites will claim they can remove the content in 60 minutes or overnight. If that does not raise an eyebrow I do not know what else will.
For someone to guarantee such a timeframe, he needs to know without a doubt that the site will comply. Most of the time it is because the “removal company” also owns each mugshot site. This, of course, grants them the ability to remove the content quickly. Making them look like a hero.
This would be comparable to a firefighter starting a fire then “saving the day” by extinguishing it right away. Read below on more facts about the growing mugshot industry.
What Alternative Do You Have for Mugshot Removal?
By now you have noticed this can be quite the investment for many individuals. That is why is it so important to be aware of the facts about the mug shot industry. Do not worry there are alternative routes you can take. These may not be as successful but will assist in “hiding” that negative information online.
By creating additional content that is positive we can, in essence, flood out any negative pieces of information. Google for instance, on the first page there are 10-12 results (paid and organic results). If you are working to suppress something off the first page you would utilize high authority sites to “outrank” the unwanted content.
We want to reiterate that, as unethical as it may seem, these sites are not legally doing anything wrong. Protected by the FOIA, mugshot publishers can publish your arrest content all over the internet. As long as they do not contact you asking for payment, it is not considered extortion, blackmail, or racketeering.
If you have tried to remove a harmful post but failed, give us a call at EraseMugshots. Our 100% free comprehensive analysis will immediately uncover any and all harmful websites. Within 7 days they will be removed and it will be as if they never existed. It is time you finally landed that dream job.
More Facts About Mugshots
If you have ever been arrested there is a high chance of probability that your mugshots are appearing in Google! You have most likely seen yours if you fall into this category. All arrest information is considered public information, so these website sites are within the legal rights to display this content without permission from the arrestees.
The most common misconception we see is users who visit these sites automatically assume the worst. A mugshot site or booking photo is simply a reference to the individual and the incident. If someone has a mugshot online that DOES NOT mean they were convicted. Most people are released right away and never see the inside of a cell.
This is a perfect example of how unregulated the internet is. Having sites publish booking information only to have that individual pay them to have it removed.
Mugshots and booking information are considered public information as we briefly covered previously. If you would like to obtain an arrest record for a family or friend (or even a potential date) all you would need to do is visit the county and ask.
Unless the case was expunged, you will be provided with all of the case details from the incident. Do not worry, this can still be removed.
Once a website obtains your information they are free to do with it as they please. Mugshots can be uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, Personal Websites, and more. They are unfortunately protected under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Additionally, the arrestee, in this case, does NOT own the rights to the photo. The county court of the clerk office does.
In fact, there have been many statutes implement over the past several months in efforts to minimize the spread of arrest information (see what your state’s guidelines are here). These statutes include, not paying for mugshot removal. Consequently enough, these website owners are now NOT removing anything (not what the state expected).
Moreover, the law set in place made it illegal to charge for removals, not to post. However, if your case has been dismissed or expunged many sites will comply with your request and remove the negative information.
First, start with a Google search for all variations on your name to uncover your mugshots.
John Smith OR John D. Smith OR John Doe Smith
Next, put words like arrest or mugshot after those variations to further narrow down your results. After you think you have a list, review it as this should consist of about 5-10 different sites. You can then reach out to the site owner(s) and provide your legal documents discrediting what they have said about you. Lastly, be sure to be polite and provide facts they cannot argue.
How to remove public records from internet?
Nonetheless, once you are confident with the list you compiled it is always a great decision to have a third party company double-check. EraseMugshots offers a FREE ANALYSIS which uncovers all of the website displaying your arrest content online and mugshots.
Due to our 100% risk-free guarantee approach, EM’s removal specialists can have your online reputation back to normal in just 72-hours!
Expunctions are the gateway to your freedom as most attorneys say. A criminal arrest record can be like the legal equivalent of a sickness. It can cost you a job, a promotion at work, or countless other opportunities. Expunctions ensure your mugshot is no longer public information.
Do not bother explaining the details on your dismissed case to the interviewer. Once they see your criminal record you lost. Costing you the job in the end. Curing your sickness is a great example of what an expunction does, works to leave no trace. Your records will be destroyed once approved by a Judge.
Including records that reference the arrest. Remove court records, the district attorney’s file, and even transcripts of the trial are all examples of this. People often refer to expunction as wiping their past clean.
This also means that the state’s agencies can’t give information about these arrests to private companies who gather criminal data for distribution for private background checks. In some states, this allows for a person with an expunction to “deny the occurrence of the arrest…” in certain circumstances. Furthermore, this varies state to state and you should know local laws.
What is unknown by most is qualifying for an expunction can be somewhat difficult. Expunctions are simple and straightforward, they remove a case from your record. Even remove a mugshot that is actively displayed on Google.
Do Automatic Expunctions Exist?
Once barred you should receive an automatic expunction. Next, the prosecution can be barred where you are acquitted by a judge or jury, where the statute of limitations has expired and the case hasn’t been filed, or if the prosecution has been barred for some other reason.
In addition, a common misconception is that getting deferred adjudication ‘magically’ drops the criminal arrest record on its own for any offense. Deferred only entitles you to an expunction for (most) class “C” misdemeanors in Texas.>
These are the lowest level of offense, which includes traffic tickets and petty offenses ranging from minor in possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft below $50 in value as examples. An Expunction may still be necessary even if a “C’ level charge as given.
Deferred adjudication for offenses from class “B” charges and above may allow you to apply for a petition for non-disclosure which generally limits who can know about your criminal case but is different from an expunction.
Remove your information from the various mug shot websites fast with the proper documentation.
Expunction of Criminal Records
Furthermore, an expunction doesn’t happen on its own.
The judge must review the expungement request typically given from your lawyer. (Time-frame is about 1 year).
In conclusion, we are not a law firm so no information above should influence any legal decisions. Please consult an attorney for questions regarding this subject matter.
An Expunction of a Criminal Record
Expunctions often seem like the silver bullet you need to erase a criminal record from the public record. With almost a third of adults being arrested by the age of 23, a lot of people are finding it hard to find a job and to rent a home.
The expungement process is quite a simple thing to understand. It means that your criminal records are no longer accessible to the public via the courts. But expunction doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
What Does Expunction Actually Cover?
Once you have had your criminal record successfully expunged, nobody can go to the courts and find out that you have received a conviction for the offense in question.
Previously, this meant that you were essentially completely clean and a background check would reveal no criminal convictions. The problem is that this process has failed to keep up with the digital age.
It Doesn’t Cover Online Articles and Blogs
For example, you live in a small town and you got a misdemeanor a few years back. It naturally made a random local news page online. Years later you had that conviction expunged from your record.
The problem is that the local news page that originally published the story is under no obligation to remove their story or any of the details.
Someone performing a background check can simply look up the story and find out that you were convicted, despite the expunction.
Private Background Check Companies have a Way Around Expunction
It’s also true that expunction only determines the result of a background check in the future. Employers that enlist a private background check company to look up a prospective hire and still see that expunged record.
Why is this the case?
Court records are downloadable and these companies periodically download the latest records. Performing a background check will uncover all personal pieces of information about someone.
What Can You Do About It?
In the cyber age, the role of the expunction is nowhere near as powerful as it once was. It doesn’t apply to people talking online or records that were downloaded before the expunction became active. That’s why you’re not in the clear just because you were successful.
So what can you do about it?
Most employers will appreciate the honesty and may still decide to not hold it against you.
Last Word – Is an Expungement Still Worth It?
The expungement is still worth it because it reduces the chances of any future damage by having your name appear in the records of the court.
Plus an expungement is far more respectable than having an active criminal record that anyone can access. But there’s no doubt that expungement still has its flaws.
Have you applied for an expungement of your criminal records?
Expungement and sealing records are often confused as meaning the same thing. Most states receive numerous requests every year for both.
For example, in the state of Illinois 7,601 records were successfully expunged in 2016, and 6,660 records were sealed.
But it’s important to be aware of what they mean so you can make an informed decision on the best option for you.
Expungement is the complete deletion of records from the database of the court. In other words, it’s like the offense never happened in a legal sense. Previously, expungement was a fresh start. Unfortunately, the cyber age has changed that, which we’ll discuss in the following sections.
Sealing one’s records is an automatic process for juveniles in many states. When the juvenile turns 18 the records are sealed. However, the records are never deleted.
They can be still reopened if a court order is presented. That isn’t possible if a conviction has been expunged from the records.
Why Expungement has Changed in the Digital Age
Expungement is a procedure well worth using so that nobody can find your name in the public records any longer. However, there are still problems with expungement because of the way the Internet works.
What it doesn’t cover are mentions of the record online. For example, if the story in question was published on a local news site or on social media the expungement doesn’t force the original author to take anything down.
So, a juvenile criminal could still have their story published online, despite expungement removing their name from the public records or even if their records are sealed once they become an adult. Furthermore, private background check companies regularly download court records, so if they have your court record before it was expunged it hasn’t disappeared from the public view.
Should You Seal Your Records?
You may live in a state where the sealing of records isn’t automatic. In this case, you may be wondering whether you should have the records sealed or expunged. In all cases, it’s best to have your records expunged. Sometimes your request may be rejected.
For example, maybe not enough time has passed in the eyes of the court. However, if your criminal record is from your juvenile years once you become an adult you should have no problem submitting a request. It’s the initial step on the way towards expungement.
Expungement is generally harder to obtain, so a lawyer may suggest sealing the records instead. It all depends on the specific situation because every offense is different. Legal outcomes get confusing when sites are reporting conflicting information.
Last Word – Know the Difference
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that expungement is just a fancy way of talking about sealing one’s records. It is the deletion order of the record, so in the eyes of the court, it never happened. Sealing the records doesn’t delete the records but they’re not accessible to the general public.
But keep in mind that it is limited to what it covers in the digital age. If you are struggling to remove your mugshot from mugshot websites please contact us today!
