This site is designed to provide education and information for the thousands of Texans that have a felony or misdemeanor criminal record. From clearing your criminal record to finding a job after a conviction, this site has useful information people looking to get the most out of life after a conviction.

Texas has several forms of record clearing, including expungement or expunction, orders of nondisclosure or record sealing, setting aside a conviction, and a pardon??Ó to name just a few. Each of these processes have serious consequences and should be done with the assistance of an attorney who has experience with expungement and related remedies provided by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. For expungement in Texas, we recommend the Austin-based expungement and record sealing law firm, RecordGone.com They offer a low-price and money-back guarantee and serve all of Texas. 877-573-7273 FREE ELIGIBILITY TEST

Truth About Retail Theft Database and Expungement

Retail Theft databases maintained by retail establishments keep track of those people who have been caught shoplifting and opted to be listed in the database instead of prosecuted in the courts.

Retailers who catch someone they believe was stealing have the option of calling law enforcement and having the issue resolved in the courts or having the issue resolved in another lawful manner. A popular alternative is to have the suspect enter a contractual agreement that has the suspect agree to be listed in the retail theft database and to never enter the store again in exchange for the store agreeing not to report the suspect to law enforcement.

While the listing the database can be detrimental to those who wish to work in retail, it is a much less detrimental than a felony or misdemeanor conviction. A criminal record can be seen my just about anyone; whereas, a listing in the retail theft database only is viewable by a select number of retailers that are described in the agreement signed by the suspect.

The bad news about being listed in the retail theft database is that the listing cannot be expunged or sealed by a court.

Study Shows Need for States to Pass Effective Record Sealing and Expungement Laws

A recent study by the prestigous Pew Research firm shows that one in every 31 adults in the United States is in the corrections system, which includes jail, prison, probation and supervision, more than double the rate of a quarter century ago. The report was released in March of 2009.

While the study did not touch on the long-term consequences of those with a criminal record or rates of recidivism, a consequence of going through the penal system is often a permanent obstacle to meaningful employment and reentering society in a productive way. While politicians are rushing to bailout failing and/or corrupt corporations, it is time for them to look at giving some of these offenders a second chance by passing meaningful expungment and record sealing laws. Such a move would meet the reports recommendation that states "create incentives for offenders and supervision agencies to succeed, and monitor their performance."

The study, which reported the current rate compares to 1 in 77 people in 1982, concluded that with dwindling resources, more emphasis should be put on community supervision, not jail or prison.

Benefits you receive when you expunge or seal your Texas record can include

* Tell employers that you have not been convicted of a crime
* Become eligible for student loans
* Become eligible for housing assistance
* Become eligible for more types of professional licenses and certificates
* Tell friends and family that you have not been convicted of a crime
* To stop fearing or being embarrassed when someone does a background check on you.

Texas expungement law allows expungement of arrests which did not lead to a finding of guilt, and class C misdemeanors if the defendant received deferred adjudication, and completed community supervision. The release, dissemination or use of expunged records by any agency is prohibited. Unless being questioned under oath, the defendant may deny the occurrence of the arrest and expungement order. If the defendant was found guilty, pled guilty, or pled no contest to any offense other than a class "C" misdemeanor, it is not eligible for expungement; however, it may be eligible for non-disclosure if deferred adjudication was granted.

Make Sure To Use A Licensed Attorney to Expunge or Seal Your Record

When shopping for an expungement attorney, make sure to get a quote, money-back guarantee, and that the price includes all fees and court costs.

Expungement involves your CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION and can have a LIFE-LONG AFFECT on you, DO NOT TRUST ANYONE BUT A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL. The internet is a great way to find an attorney who can expunge or seal your criminal record at an affordable price. However, there are also several scam sites posing as attorneys. They call themselves "form processors," "paralegals," or a "legal service;" some go as far as to lie and say they are attorneys.

Information for Dallas, Austin, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Lubbock, Waco, DFW, Harris County and all of Texas.