FAQs about expungements in Louisiana

Expungements are not the same as deferred sentences. These two are often confused, although they are very different. If you are a first-time offender, deferred sentences allow you to change your convictions to “not guilty” after you complete probation, file affidavits of compliance and pay a fee. However, this process leaves a history of arrest, conviction and acquittal.

Expungements are also different from first offender’s pardons. The state automatically grants pardons to first-time felons after they complete their sentence. However, that does not privatize your record or prevent the conviction from haunting you. Instead, it is to restore your right to vote.

Employment is the most common reason people seek an expungement. After receiving an expungement, you no longer have to check that you have a criminal record when applying for jobs. Additionally, employers running background checks cannot find any information that you have had expunged. Louisiana expungement laws also protect you by imposing penalties on any companies that reveal your sealed criminal history.

Expunging your criminal record can give you opportunities and make your life easier. Knowing that this is an option can help you take the steps necessary to improve your life.