How to Expunge an Arrest Record in New Jersey
A criminal record can adversely affect your job opportunities, housing opportunities, educational opportunities as well as have a negative impact on many other areas of your life. If you have an arrest record in the state of New Jersey, you may qualify to have your record expunged. When a record is expunged, it no longer exists for purposes of a public records inquiry or background check in the state of New Jersey.
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Instructions
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Confirm that you are eligible for an expungement. Title 2C, Section 52 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated provides information regarding the eligibility requirements for expungement.
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Obtain a copy of your criminal records. You will need information regarding the arrest you want expunged as well as information regarding any additional criminal history you have. For the arrest you are expunging, you will need the date of your arrest, the charges, a copy of the indictment, the date of disposition and your sentencing information if you were convicted. If an attorney represented you during the proceedings then she should have all the records you need. You should also be able to request copies directly from the court clerk where the charges were filed.
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Prepare a petition to expunge, an order for hearing and an expungement order. The New Jersey State Judiciary website offers a sample petition form as well as samples of all other forms you will need.
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Make at least three copies of all forms. File the original and two copies of the forms with the court where the case was originally heard.
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Serve all required parties by certified mail with copies of the paperwork. You will need to serve the Attorney General of New Jersey, superintendent of the State Police, the county prosecutor and the chief of police where the arrest originally took place.
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Appear at the hearing scheduled by the court. Answer any additional questions that the judge may ask.
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