Kansas Expungements: Clearing Your Criminal Record and Starting Fresh

 

If you’ve been arrested or convicted of a crime in Kansas, you know how much a criminal record can affect your life. From difficulty finding a job to problems with housing applications or securing loans, a past mistake can follow you for years. Fortunately, Kansas law allows many individuals to expunge their criminal records—giving them the second chance they deserve.

At Robinson Law Firm, (through our expungement-focused website expungekansasrecord.com) we help clients throughout Riley County, Wabaunsee County, Shawnee County, Pottawatomie County, Dickinson County, and all other Kansas counties navigate the expungement process and move forward with a clean slate.

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What Is an Expungement in Kansas?

An expungement is a legal process that seals your criminal record from public view. Once your record is expunged, it is no longer accessible to most employers, landlords, and members of the public. While certain government agencies and law enforcement may still access the record in limited circumstances, an expungement can greatly reduce the barriers caused by a prior conviction or arrest.

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Benefits of a Kansas Expungement

Clearing your record can have life-changing results. Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Better employment opportunities – Most employers run background checks, and an expungement can remove a past conviction from consideration.

• Access to housing – Landlords are far less likely to deny applications when your record is clean.

• Peace of mind – You no longer have to worry about old mistakes resurfacing during background checks.

• Improved reputation – An expungement gives you the ability to legally state that you have not been convicted of that offense in most circumstances.

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Kansas Expungement Waiting Periods: 3 or 5 Years

Not every conviction or arrest can be expunged immediately. Kansas law sets waiting periods that must pass before you can file for an expungement:

• 3-Year Waiting Period: Many misdemeanors and certain felonies are eligible for expungement three years after completing your sentence, probation, or diversion agreement.

• 5-Year Waiting Period: More serious offenses typically require a five-year waiting period before you can apply for expungement.

Certain crimes, such as serious violent felonies or sex offenses, may not be eligible for expungement. The rules can vary depending on your case, which is why speaking with an experienced Kansas expungement attorney is crucial.

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Expungement Services in Riley, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, and Dickinson Counties

While Kansas expungement laws are statewide, every county court—including Riley, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, and Dickinson counties—handles expungement filings locally. We are experienced in working with courts across the state and understand the unique requirements of each jurisdiction.

No matter where you live in Kansas, we can guide you through the process and help you take the next step toward a fresh start.

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Start Your Expungement Process Today

If you’re ready to leave your criminal record in the past, we’re here to help. Our firm has successfully helped clients across Kansas—from Riley County to Shawnee County and beyond—obtain expungements and reclaim their future.

Contact us today for a consultation and find out if you qualify for an expungement. Your second chance starts here.

Kansas Expungements

Many people in Kansas are eligible for an expungement and don’t even know it. Kansas allows expungements for many convictions, as well as records of diversions and arrests where charges were dropped.  An expungement seals your criminal record, making it invisible to most prospective employers or anyone else performing a background check.  In most cases, the state is not permitted to disclose your prior arrest or conviction. Expungements allow you to withhold information about the expunged offense and state you were never arrested in situations like non-law enforcement jobs interviews and college applications.   What it does not do is dispose entirely of your criminal record.  Law enforcement officials still have access to records expunged in Kansas in the event of an arrest for new crimes.When you obtain an expungement in Kansas, the FBI, KBI, and NCIC is notified and your convictions are then "expunged" or erased for most purposes within those particular databases.  

To find out if you're eligible for an expungement use this web-based questionnaire we developed or contact a Kansas criminal defense attorney with expungement experience.

Manhattan, Kansas Attorney New Expungement Website

Soon this firm will be offering a new website which will be geared exclusively towards Kansas expungements.  The website will offer information which will streamline the expungement process and offer an affordable solution to getting experienced expungement representation.  This website is offered by the Robinson Law Office and will serve all jurisdictions in Kansas including Sedgwick County, Johnson County, and Shawnee County. Luckily Kansas is a state that allows expungement of many crimes and has even recently reduced the required waiting period expunging a DUI conviction.  An expungement allows you to treat the crime as if it never happened.

The Manhattan, Kansas law firm will still offer criminal defense representation in Riley County, Geary County and surrounding areas.  This includes strong criminal defense representation for DUI, high level drug crimes, and domestic related crimes.

DUI Expungements, Kansas

Clearing your first time DUI record in the State of Kansas just got a little easier as of July 1, 2015.  That is the case, at least, for first time DUI offenders.   The Kansas Legislature, though embarrassingly ineffective this last term, did manage to ease the burden for those individuals who have received a Driving Under the Influence charge for the first time in Kansas by reducing the expungement waiting period for those DUI convictions.

Expungement is a way to clear your record for most purposes.  There is a waiting period that varies depending on the severity of the crime. For the past few years the period for expunging a DUI was 10 years, no questions asked.  As of July 1, 2015, the waiting period was reduced by 5 years for first time DUIs.  This means that five years from the date you were released from your diversion, probation, or parole for a first time DUI, you are now eligible for an expungement.  So where the waiting period for a DUI expungement was 10 years just days ago, it is now 5 years. This means any DUI first time offender who was released from their DUI diversion, probation, or parole before July 2010, they are eligible immediately to petition for their DUI charge and arrest to be expunged.

To get started on expunging your DUI or to expunge any other criminal charge in the State of Kansas call an expungement attorney in the Manhattan, Kansas area. We can serve all parts of Kansas.

Eligible for an Expungement in Kansas?

Do you have a past criminal history? Are you wanting to start fresh by removing criminal charges and convictions from your criminal background? An expungement can remove some charges and convictions but not all of them are equal and it is helpful to know what can be expunged, how long you have to wait to expunge them, and what it costs to get them expunged.

If you have completed your sentence or have been discharged from probation, community corrections, parole, or post release supervision, you may be eligible for an expungement.  The severity level of the crime determines the waiting period and can be summarized as follows:

After three years these convictions could be wiped off your record: traffic infractions, cigarette or tobacco infraction, misdemeanor or a class D or E felony. (prior to 1993).

After July 1, 1993 nondrug crimes, severity level 6-10, and felony crimes with a severity level 4 may also be expunged.

After five years some of the following convictions could be removed from your record: felonies class A, B, or C (prior to 1993); or crimes after July 1, 1993 such as, a non drug crime, severity level 1-5 or any felonies with a severity level 1-3 on the drug grid. Other crimes that are allowed to be expunged include vehicular homicide, driving with a invalid license, perjury, using false information, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and driving without insurance.

But this does not come with out a price, an expungement for one case at the Riley County Court House has a filing fee of $119.00 and at the Manhattan Municipal court it is $60.00. Filing for an expungement of your records does not guarantee that you will receive the expungement.

This is not a complete list, knowing what can and can’t be expunged and the process to receive one can be confusing, especially if there are multiple cases. In order to ensure your speedy expungement, contact a Kansas expungement attorney for a free phone consultation today.

This is not legal advice and should not be taken as such.  This is for informational purposes and does not create an attorney/client relationship. Every case is different and if you want an attorney with Kansas expungement experience contact an expungement attorney in your area.

Kansas Expungement of Criminal Record

It comes that time a year again where a New Year’s resolution means a new you. For some that may mean a new diet and exercise regimen, a new job, but for others a ‘new you’ could mean getting rid of your past criminal charges, arrests, or criminal convictions by getting an expungement.

Expungement is the technical term for cleaning your record.  To “expunge” means to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  In essence your are “striking out” old arrests, criminal records, and convictions when you have them expunged in Kansas.

A past crime, no matter how long ago, will not disappear over time on its own. You will need to request its removal by obtaining an expungement.  Whether you were convicted or arrested, an expungement can be a viable option for you depending on the severity of the crime and how many years have elapsed since that said conviction or arrest.

The costs of an expungement will vary depending on the court you were convicted in.  A city Municipal Court and a County District Court, even if in the same county, will have their own procedures and costs for getting your criminal records expunged. 

Cost To Expunge Your Criminal Record

The filing cost of most expungements in a Kansas District Court is $119.00.  This is the payment that must be made to the District Court Clerk of the County where you were arrested or accused.  Filing in some municipal courts can range in cost from free, all the way to $119.00.

            An expungement can be a lengthy process that you may not understand or have time to complete on your own. With the help of a knowledgeable attorney who handles Kansas expungements, this process can be less burdensome on you. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner you will be able to start on the ‘new you’ that you hope to see in the upcoming year and get your old convictions or arrests of your record.

Contact a Kansas expungement attorney for a free phone or in office consultation regarding your expungement today.

             

New Expungement Fee in Manhattan Municipal Court

An expungement in Manhattan Municipal Court is a way you request that your record be cleared of a conviction or multiple convictions stemming from the same case number. As of October 1, 2013 a $60 fee will be charged to file an expungement through the Manhattan Municipal Court.  Previous to October 1, 2013 costs of an expungement in the Manhattan Municipal Court has been free.

Before contacting a Kansas attorney for more information on the proper course of action to file for an expungement, you will need to gather some information to assist in the process. For the list of information as well as more information on expungements, please see our blog entries on Geary County Expungement and Junction City Expungement.

Once a Kansas expungement attorney has this information they can help you obtain a fresh start by expunging your old charges and convictions. For more information and a free consultation, contact a Kansas Expungement Attorney in the Manhattan, Kansas area.

Geary County Expungement and Junction City Expungement

In Kansas, an expungement is the way to clear your record of a particular conviction or numerous convictions that stem from the same case number. If you want a fresh start or are you trying to rid yourself of past run-in’s with the law in Geary County or Junction City, and expungement is the way to do it.

Before you contact a Kansas attorney for your Geary County or Junction City Expungement, you will need to be prepared with the following information to assist your attorney with a speedy resolution to your case:

1.      The name you were arrested under and your date of birth

2.      Your current address

3.      The court or county in which you were arrested

4.      Your court case number OR if you don’t know it the approximate year of your arrest.

5.      Have you been in trouble with the law since your conviction?

6.      The date of the termination of your probation/sentence/diversion.

The cost for filing an expungement in the Riley County District Court and in the Geary County District Court is $119.00. These prices are subject to change as each court raises their prices from year to year, so always check with a local attorney that can give you an exact amount.  Attorney's fees can also vary widely depending on the type of case, number of convictions, and number of expungements that need to be filed.

Once a Kansas expungement attorney has this information, it becomes a much easier process for them to assist you. For more information and a free consultation, contact a Kansas Expungement Attorney in your area. The knowledge and skill of your legal counsel can make a major difference in the outcome of your new beginning.

Expungement in Junction City, KS

As mentioned in other posts about Expungements in Kansas, an expungement is a way to request the State of Kansas to cleans your record as to on particular conviction or numerous convictions that stem from the same case number. 

Before you contact an expungment attorney for your Geary County or Junction City expungement, you should have the following information handy as it will assist your attorney in getting your expungement papers prepared:

1. Your full name AND if it's changed, the name you were arrested under
2. The court or county in which you were arrested
3. Date of birth
4. Whether you've been in trouble since your conviction
5. Your current address
6. Date of the termination of your probation/sentence. 
7. Your court case number OR if you don't know it, the year or approximate year of arrest. 

A court case number for most Geary or Riley County Courts looks like this: 10 CR 229, or 02 CR 003.  Once a knowledgeable Kansas expungment attorney has this information it becomes much easier for them to assist you. 

The cost of filing for an expungment in Riley County District Court is $119.  In Geary County District Court, the cost of filing an expungment is also $119.  These prices are subject to change as each court raises their prices from year to year, so always check with a local attorney that can give you an exact amount.  Attorney's fees can also vary widely depending on the type of case, number of convictions, and number of expungements that need to be filed.

If you're having difficulty obtaining a fire arm or just want to get your record clean, contact an attorney that can help you get your expungement taken care of in a speedy, professional, and discreet manner.