Randall L Vonderheide PC - Logo

Attorney at Law

Phone: (765) 423-2557

Fax: (765) 423-4544

300 Main Street, Suite #500
Lafayette, IN 47901

Is it worth it to expunge an old misdemeanor conviction?


Is there any benefit to expunging an old minor criminal conviction such as possession of marijuana, public intoxication, or a misdemeanor operating while intoxicated?

It is always in your best interests to expunge your old criminal conviction. When you are charged with a crime, a public record is made that shows the criminal charge and a summary of all court proceedings. As a result, anyone can type in your name in the on-line court records and see the information about your case. We have business clients that call us to check court records regarding prospective employees or tenants. What we discovered in these public record searches probably cost some individuals a job or a lease.

Once you expunge the old conviction, it will be removed from the public record and the on-line docket so it will not be discoverable by potential employers, landlords, etc. Therefore, not expunging an old conviction even for a minor offense is always a bad idea. Misdemeanor convictions can be expunged 5 years after the date of conviction.

If you have any kind of criminal record, you should immediately hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer such as Steven Knecht to help you expunge your record.

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