An expunction is a legal filing that seeks to remove an arrest and all associated “files” from your record. Anytime someone is arrested, law enforcement creates a “file” to track the person through the system. Your personal information is kept in county, state and national databases reflecting what you were arrested for and the disposition, if any. Law enforcement may access this database at any time. Expunctions order all governmental agencies with information related to your arrest to be destroyed. A violation of an expunction order is a misdemeanor offense.
If your arrest was not accepted by the prosecutor, dismissed at the Court level or ultimately you were acquitted for an offense, you may be entitled to ask for the arrest “file” to be destroyed. Certain restrictions and time frames may apply, depending on the type of offense you were arrested for.