Why do I need a North Carolina Expungement? 
Top 10 Reasons for Getting a NC Expungement
1. Employment & Professional Licensure
Employment is probably the most significant area affected by a criminal conviction. Employers often perform criminal background checks on potential employees and are more likely to deny jobs to applicants with a criminal record. Some employers run criminal background checks on current employees to make sure they have remained in good standing during their employment period.
We have found that a criminal conviction is an especially significant obstacle for our clients who want to enlist in any branch of the armed services. Although it is not an automatic bar from being accepted to Officer Candidate School, most recruiters agree that it is highly unlikely an applicant with a criminal conviction will be chosen.
A criminal conviction may prevent you from obtaining a professional licensure. The licensing board may deny your application or take away your license as a result of a criminal conviction.
A criminal conviction or even a record of a dismissed case is just not the right first impression for any employment situation. Whether you have a conviction or your case was dismissed you may be eligible to have your charges expunged and avoid talking about a mistake from your past on that all important first interview.
The UNC School of Government’s Collateral Consequences Assessment Tool (C-CAT) lists over 300 employment and professional licensure areas that are affected by a criminal conviction. A full list can be found at http://ccat.sog.unc.edu/term-browser/25.
2. Housing
Having a criminal record can also limit your ability to obtain both public and private housing options. Not only will a criminal conviction affect your eligibility for public housing, but private landlords and other housing and real estate agencies may also refuse to provide you with housing. Landlords often use criminal background checks as part of the tenant screening process for rental applications. We’ve had several clients call us about an expungement after their rental application for housing was denied due to a criminal conviction. If you’ve had a case dismissed a record of the charge still shows up and can be seen by anyone. If you have had a case dismissed we can possibly help to have the records expunged.
3. Education
Schools of higher education may perform background checks or require disclosure of criminal convictions for students applying for admission. Certain drug related convictions can also disqualify students from receiving financial aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships.
4. Financial Consequences: Insurance
A criminal conviction results in direct financial costs and consequences, including:
Insurance companies will often charge higher insurance premiums for people with a criminal record. Certain offenses may even deem you to be “uninsurable.”
5. Financial Consequences: Loan Eligibility & Interest Rates
Banks and other lending institutions base decisions about loan eligibility and interest rates on the information found in your criminal record.
6. Civic & Firearm Rights
As many people know, one major consequence of a felony conviction is the loss of certain civic rights. For example, a convicted felon is denied the right to vote or hold an elective office and barred from serving as a juror.
Depending upon the type of conviction, a person’s firearms rights may be restricted or eliminated entirely. A convicted felon, for example, is prohibited from purchasing, owning, or possessing any type of firearm – not just for personal protection, but also for recreational purposes, such as hunting.
7. Public Benefits
Federal and state public benefits may be restricted, suspended, or permanently denied as a result of a criminal arrest or conviction. Benefits effected include:
i. Welfare
ii. Food stamps
iii. Public housing assistance
iv. Federal unemployment benefits
8. International Travel & Immigration
Countries may refuse entry to people with a criminal record, limiting one’s ability to travel internationally.
Criminal convictions may also have significant immigration consequences. Non-citizens living as legal residents in the United States may face deportation, inadmissibility, or be barred from naturalization.
9. Adoption & Foster Care
All states, including North Carolina, require criminal record checks as part of a background investigation for approving an adoptive or foster home placement. Certain criminal convictions will disqualify you from adopting a child or serving as a foster parent.
10. School Functions & Volunteer Work
Many schools do not allows parents with criminal convictions to do extracurricular activities and volunteer work with their own children! We have clients who get an expungement just so that they can participate in volunteer school activities.
Contact an Expungment Lawyer to discuss whether or not you qualify for an expungement.
If you have a criminal conviction or a dismissed criminal charge in North Carolina please contact the expungement lawyers at The Law offices of Wiley Nickel, PLLC for a free consultation. We will walk you through the process and let you know whether or not you qualify to have your North Carolina criminal record expunged. You can reach us at our office located in Cary, NC at 919-585-1486. You can also e-mail expungement lawyer Wiley Nickel directly at wiley@granadoslaw.com.