Under certain circumstances, you can have criminal charges sealed in Florida. This means that the arrest, criminal proceedings, and resolution would be shielded from the general public. It also means that if you're asked if you've been arrested or convicted of a crime, you may legally answer no. This is important if you're searching for an apartment, trying to buy a house, or applying for a new job. As you are probably aware, most apartment complexes and employers do background checks. Any criminal record, even if you weren't convicted may adversely affect your ability to get that apartment or land that new job.
In order to qualify, you must meet certain requirements. First, you must have received a withhold of adjudication (the judge decided to withhold a guilty verdict). You also must not have applied for a sealing before. Also, you can't be under any type of court supervision program. You also can not have been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony or any criminal ordinance violation.
There are some charges for which the seal does not apply. These are primarily violent or sexual crimes. For a more in-depth list of such crimes, please visit my main criminal law website at: wwww.crimelawyer.com
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