Rights

If you have questions about your rights regarding Atlanta expungement, know that a professional defense attorney could offer you their assistance about what legal options could be available to you based on your own unique situation and whether or not your case merits an appeal. If you were arrested and acquitted for a crime, do not hesitate to reach out to a skilled attorney as soon as possible to learn about your rights regarding Atlanta expungement today.

If an individual’s criminal record has not been expunged, they have the opportunity to appeal the denial of an expungement case to the Superior Court. In these cases, the court will weigh how much the individual is affected by the statement on their criminal record against how the public would be affected if they could no longer access that information.

In the case of a student on financial aid in college, the arrest for the alleged crime could potentially result in their school revoking those funds from their tuition package. If the student did not commit that crime and pled not guilty, the expungement of their record could mean the difference between finding employment and dropping out of school altogether.

Individuals who have a commercial driver’s license can also be seriously affected by an arrest for a crime. Drivers with commercial licenses have to drive often as a part of their job. A license suspension following an alleged traffic offense can result in lost time at work, as well as the potential of being fired from their employment. It is significant to consider one’s rights regarding Atlanta expungement after an arrest that ends in an acquittal, as future employers could see this infraction and decide that the driver is too reckless to be trusted on the road.

An expungement here could mean that the employee could keep their job, or continue to perform similar types of work in the future without this aspect of their permanent record hanging over their head. In addition, certain types of medical professionals and commercial pilots do not allow individuals to practice if they have been arrested or convicted for certain crimes, particularly those involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If someone was truly innocent in these cases, they should not have to suffer the consequences of a false arrest.

Because Georgia is not a right-to-work state, an employer can hire a convicted criminal or choose not to based on that status. The decision remains completely up to the employer, as there is not exact law determining whether or a not an expungement after the fact will make someone eligible for their job again.

For this reason, it is very important to consult one’s employee handbook if they are worried about their job security following an arrest and consequent expungement to determine whether or not they could still be accepted at their workplace. Know that a dedicated defense lawyer could help to inform you about your rights regarding Atlanta expungement, as well as whether or not it could be available in your situation.