Suffolk County Criminal Defense Attorney Jason Bassett Explains the Process of Sealing Criminal Convictions

Suffolk County criminal defense attorney Jason Bassett (https://jbassettlaw.com/sealing-criminal-convictions/) releases a new article that discusses the process of sealing criminal convictions. The lawyer mentions that a criminal record may continue to haunt someone long after their sentence has been served. A criminal record can make it almost impossible for someone to find a decent job.

According to the Suffolk County criminal defense attorney, “With a criminal record, you may be denied housing or disqualified from receiving public benefits. You can find yourself being rejected from educational programs and denied certain professional licenses. It can seem that you will have to carry your past mistakes around with you for the rest of your life.”

The lawyer explains that in New York, there are no laws to erase or “expunge” criminal convictions. However, there is a process to “seal” criminal convictions according to New York Criminal Procedure Law Section 160.59. It can be a very complicated process for anyone who is not too familiar with the law.

Attorney Bassett also mentions that in order to be eligible for sealing, a person needs to be crime-free for at least 10 years since the date of their conviction or release from jail/prison. There is a limit for the number of convictions a person can have “sealed”. Generally, they will be allowed 2 misdemeanor convictions or 1 felony and 1 misdemeanor conviction sealed.

In the article, the criminal defense attorney discusses that even if someone has more than 2 convictions, they may be eligible for sealing as long as they are related incidents. Someone with a pending criminal case is not allowed to have any convictions sealed.

Furthermore, attorney Bassett says that once a court approves the motion, everything related to the crime from records of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions will be sealed. The public will not have access to the records anymore and this will give the person more opportunities to get a better life. However, there are also criminal offenses that are not eligible for sealing.

Lastly, the lawyer emphasizes the importance of having a skilled attorney when it comes to matters like sealing criminal convictions. Having an experienced lawyer may be able to help the person live a normal life after serving their sentence.

About Jason Bassett Criminal Attorney

Jason Bassett, Esq. has dedicated his practice to defending the rights of those who are accused of criminal offenses. He puts his unique perspective as a former prosecutor to work and provides the best legal assistance he can give to his clients. Mr. Bassett brings a unique combination of skill, experience, and zealous advocacy to provide his clients with the best possible outcomes. Contact him today to schedule a consultation.