tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17686630362846126092024-02-20T01:11:10.350-08:00The Free Consultation - Answers To Questions About Criminal LawAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-71114248080308358602014-08-27T12:25:00.000-07:002014-08-27T12:25:30.020-07:00Recent Changes to Louisiana’s Expungement Law – New Waiting Times Before Expungement Can Be Requested<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the latest blog post regarding the Louisiana
Legislature’s recent changes to the expungement law. The new expungement law,
or rather laws, repeals LSA-R.S. 44:9 and replaces it with a whole host of new
laws found in Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971-995. There are many new
changes and this blog will explain one important and beneficial change for
people seeking to expunge their criminal conviction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In order to be eligible for an expungement under the old law
(44:9) it was required that you be sentenced under Article 893 (misdemeanor) or
Article 894 (felony). Often though, this important detail was neglected either
because the attorney forgot to request it from the judge or the judge declined
to make it available. In my practice I get many phone calls from people who
were not sentenced under the expungement article. Under the new expungement law
these people are now eligible for an expungement if:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
You were convicted of a <u>misdemeanor</u>
and it has been at least <u>5 years</u> since the end of your sentence/probation.
For <u>felonies</u> the wait time is <u>10 years</u> after the end of your
sentence/probation In addition, during the 5 or 10 year waiting period you
cannot have been convicted of an additional criminal charge (misdemeanor or
felony) <b><u>and</u></b> have no pending
criminal charges against you at the time of filing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a great change to the expungement law and will benefit many
people. If you need help expunging your criminal record of a misdemeanor
or felony conviction please contact
attorney Rhett Spano at <a href="mailto:225-387-8327">225-387-8327</a>
or <a href="mailto:rspano@gmail.com">rspano@gmail.com</a> for a free
consultation. You can also get more information from my website at <a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" target="_blank">www.rhettspanolaw.com</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0320 Somerulos Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA30.4445537 -91.185912000000033.1500407000000017 -132.49450600000003 57.739066699999995 -49.877318000000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-56400811794135697472014-08-25T13:07:00.000-07:002014-08-25T13:07:11.504-07:00Recent Changes to Louisiana’s Expungement Law – Expunging An Arrest From Your Criminal Record<div class="MsoNormal">
We've been blogging about the recent changes to Louisiana’s
expungement law. This blog explains how you can obtain an expungement for an <u>arrest.</u>
Obviously if you have a conviction you want to get that expunged. However, not all
arrests lead to convictions, or even a prosecution. Nevertheless, an arrest
could cost you that new job you've worked hard to get so don’t take a chance –
get it expunged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s say you went to a party with some friends and had a
few drinks. On the way home you’re stopped by the police for suspicion of DUI.
During the stop the police search your car and see drugs on the floorboard that
one of your friends discarded. The friend remains silent and you have to take
the charge because it’s your car after all. You’re arrested for DUI and
possession of drugs. Obviously, this does not look good to prospective
employers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, you hire an experienced criminal attorney (such as
myself) and he convinces the District Attorney that the case against you is not
a good one and you are not prosecuted: your attorney proves that the police
officer forgot to calibrate the Intoxilyzer and thus the results are invalid.
Also, your attorney proves that the drugs were located on the passenger side
floorboard and that you were driving the car. Not likely that you put the drugs
there and more likely someone who was in the back seat did. Boom! Out of the
woods right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not really. Even though you were not prosecuted your criminal
record still shows that you were arrested for DUI and possession of drugs. The
vast majority of employers will take a pass on hiring you. What can be done
about this?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can get the arrest record expunged under Article 976. There
is no set waiting time to get an arrest expunged if any of these conditions are
met:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You are not prosecuted for the offense <u>and</u>
the time period that the DA has to prosecute you for the offense is expired.
How long this time period is depends on the crime. It is longer for felonies
than misdemeanors. An experienced attorney can tell you if this has occurred. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The District Attorney declines to prosecute any
offense arising out of the arrest. If
the DA goes on record as stating they are not going to prosecute then you don’t
have to “run out the clock” on the time period. Again, an attorney can help you
determine this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You are prosecuted but an attorney gets the case
dismissed in court, gets the charges quashed or wins your trial. As you can
see, hiring a good defense attorney has a direct effect on your ability to get
an arrest expunged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you need help expunging your criminal record of a misdemeanor or
felony arrest please contact attorney Rhett Spano at <a href="mailto:225-387-8327">225-387-8327</a>
or <a href="mailto:rspano@gmail.com">rspano@gmail.com</a> for a free
consultation. You can also get more information from my website at <a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" target="_blank">www.rhettspanolaw.com</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-47171266316047022412014-08-21T13:40:00.002-07:002014-08-25T13:00:43.254-07:00Recent Changes to Louisiana’s Expungement Law – How Do You Know If You Are Eligible to Have Your Conviction Expunged<div class="MsoNormal">
Today’s post regarding Louisiana's new expungement law answers the
question, “how do I know if I am eligible to have my conviction expunged?” A
conviction on your criminal record can mean the denial of a hard sought job.
Trust me, you don’t want to go through the experience of being denied a job because of a conviction on your criminal record.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are eligible to have your criminal conviction expunged
if:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
<!--[endif]-->At the time of your sentencing the judge
sentenced you under Article 893 (felony conviction) are Article 894
(misdemeanor conviction). After you completed your sentence, the conviction was
set aside in the prosecution was dismissed under Article 893 or 894 in court.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.
<!--[endif]-->Even if when you were originally sentenced it
was not under Article 893 or 894, you are still eligible to have your
conviction expunged if:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">More than five (5) years has elapsed since the completion of your
sentence if you were convicted of a misdemeanor <b>or</b> more than ten (10) years has elapsed since the completion of
your sentence if you were convicted of a felony <b><u>and</u></b> you have not been convicted of any additional misdemeanor/felony
offense during the 5 year or 10 year period.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the following misdemeanor convictions are not
eligible for expungement:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
<!--[endif]-->If it arose from circumstances involving a sex
offense (LSA-R.S. 15:541).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.
<!--[endif]-->A misdemeanor conviction for domestic abuse
battery which was not dismissed pursuant to article 894(B).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A new and welcome change to the expungement law is the
provision of multiple misdemeanor convictions. Under the new law, a person can
have a misdemeanor expungement once every five (5) years. However, the
expungement of a conviction for a DUI 1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> offense
(misdemeanor) can occur only once every ten (10) years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are certain felony convictions that cannot be
expunged. These are defined as “crimes of violence” and are listed in LSA-R.S.
14:2(B), which is over forty (40) in number. A sex crime against a minor is
also not eligible to be expunged. A welcome change to the expungement law is
the eligibility of certain drug crimes for felony expungement. Under the
previous law certain felony level drug offenses were not expungement. The new
law allows for the expungement of some of these offenses, as well as possession
with the intent to distribute (PWIT) crimes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If you need help expunging your criminal record of a misdemeanor or
felony conviction or arrest please contact criminal defense attorney Rhett Spano at <a href="mailto:225-387-8327">225-387-8327</a>
or <a href="mailto:rspano@gmail.com">rspano@gmail.com</a> for a free
consultation. You can also get more information from my website at <a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" target="_blank">http://www.rhettspanolaw.com</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-18401820379234173592014-08-19T08:36:00.000-07:002014-08-19T08:36:08.099-07:00Recent Changes to Louisiana’s Expungement Law – Online Criminal Record Searches<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently the legislature passed a new law (House Bill 55) that
makes many changes to Louisiana’s expungement law. One of the most important
changes deals with internet based companies that sell criminal records to
employers performing background checks on job applicants. Because even a minor
offense on your criminal record can prevent you from getting a job, it is
important that you understand how the new law affects your rights with respect
to your criminal record and how you can protect your privacy once you have
gotten an expungement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a
problem that I see often in my criminal law practice: someone is denied a job
because their employer discovered they have a criminal record. More frequently
in past years employers are purchasing criminal backgrounds over the internet
from companies that buy them in bulk from the police department or clerk’s
offices (some people say they may even hack into databases). Because of the huge
amounts of criminal records obtained at a time it is not unheard for these
companies to make a mistake in either identification or the type of charges. In
other words, the criminal records these companies sell may not be completely
accurate which could cost you a job.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new law
states that after you have an arrest or conviction expunged off your criminal
record and you give any company proper notice of your expungement, they can no
longer sell it to a prospective employer or maintain the information on their
website. Any company that sells your criminal record after you have notified
them of your expungement is liable to you for damages, court costs and attorney
fees. In other words you can sue them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Another important change to the expungement
law is that you are not required to disclose to a prospective employer that you
were previously arrested or convicted after you receive an expungement. This
means that you can check “no” on a job application if it asks if you have been
arrested or convicted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is
important to understand that when your criminal record is expunged the record
of it is not destroyed, but rather removed from public view. Public records are
those kept by the clerk’s office or law enforcement and does not include online
companies. After you receive an expungement you must take steps to inform these
online companies that your criminal record has been expunged. Hiring an
experienced criminal attorney can help ensure that a potential employer does
not deny you a job because they have discovered you have a criminal record
(that is now expunged) from one of the many online companies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you need help
expunging your criminal record of an arrest or a conviction please contact
attorney Rhett Spano at <a href="mailto:225-387-8327">225-387-8327</a>
or <a href="mailto:rspano@gmail.com">rspano@gmail.com</a> for a free
consultation. You can also get more information from my website at <a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" target="_blank">www.rhettspanolaw.com</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0320 Somerulos Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA30.4445537 -91.1859120000000330.2255177 -91.508635500000025 30.6635897 -90.863188500000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-68166335377529923902014-07-25T12:29:00.001-07:002014-08-19T08:37:09.408-07:00Talking In The Police Car Can Get You In (More) Trouble<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Most people realize from
watching TV shows that police cars contain a dash camera and that the officer
carries a microphone on his person. What is captured by these devices is often
used by the prosecutor as Exhibit 1 at trial. What most people do not realize,
however, is that the police car contains equipment to record what you say and
do after you are arrested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As a criminal defense
attorney, I never want to think that I have a great defense, only to learn in
the middle of trial that my client said or did something on camera during their
arrest that greatly increases the chance of a guilty verdict. Therefore, any
lawyer worth his or her salt will <i>carefully </i>review the entire
video of the stop <i>as soon as possible</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This happened recently with
a client who was arrested for possession of one-half kilos of cocaine and
almost a pound of marijuana. The drugs were found in a back-pack on the back
seat of his car following a traffic stop. His defense was that he had no idea
that the drugs were there and that he had been “set up” by some people who had
been in the car with him earlier that day. This is a very serious felony drug
charge and my client was facing up to ten years in prison. However, he was very
adamant about his defense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Because I practice criminal
defense in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baton Rouge</st1:place></st1:city>,
which is on the I-10 interstate, I represent a lot of clients who are charged
with possession of drugs following a traffic stop. The video of their arrest
often contains valuable information regarding the reasons for the stop (or lack
of, as is sometimes the case), as well as other important information that I
can use to get the evidence thrown out or “suppressed”. Therefore, I thoroughly
review the video on all new cases ASAP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes, however, the
video contains information that is potentially harmful to my client’s defense.
That happened in a recent case I handled. After my client was handcuffed and
placed into the rear of the police unit, the officer left him alone to go
inventory and weigh the drugs that had been seized. As soon as the police
officer shut the door, my client, not realizing he was being recorded, began
talking to himself. Incredibly, this is what he said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Going to jail. This
is one of the stupidest things I’ve did. Shoulda got the <u><b>coke </b></u>outta there.</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Obviously, this statement
strongly indicates my client knew the drugs were in the car and that he had not
been “set up” as claimed. Luckily, I caught this statement early on by
reviewing the video thoroughly. If I had gone to trial with my clients story,
he surely would have been convicted and sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence
for this serious felony drug crime. Instead, I quickly went to the Assistant
District Attorney and sought a plea bargain and was offered probation for my
client. Why would the prosecutor agree to give my client probation when he had
these incriminating statements? The answer is simple: he had not yet reviewed
the video. Because the case was still relatively new the prosecutor simply
had not gotten around to looking at the video. If he had he would have heard
the statement and not been so generous. This was a major save.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If you are arrested for possession of drugs or for any
serious felony crime, call Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Attorney Rhett Spano
now at <st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" w:st="on">(225) <st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" w:st="on">387-8327</st1:phone></st1:phone>.
Or you email me a question at<span class="apple-converted-space"> <a href="mailto:rspano1@gmail.com">rspano1@gmail.com</a></span>.
Also, be sure to visit my website at <a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/">http://www.rhettspanolaw.com</a> for additional
information regarding selecting a criminal defense attorney.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0320 Somerulos Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA30.4445537 -91.185912000000033.1500567000000004 -132.49450600000003 57.7390507 -49.877318000000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-5324566539220653222014-07-23T09:41:00.000-07:002014-08-19T08:37:24.872-07:00The Fair Sentencing Act Applies Retroactively For Those Serving Federal Time For Crack Cocaine Convictions<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In 2013 the U.S. Congress passed a law known as the Fair Sentencing Act ("FSA") that revised federal sentencing guidelines for those convicted of possession of crack cocaine. Briefly, before the FSA was enacted </span><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">federal sentencing guidelines </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">mandated that a person convicted of possession of crack
cocaine would serve a much longer sentence than a person found guilty of
possession of powder cocaine.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> For example, a person convicted of possessing just 5 grams of crack
cocaine would get the same 5 year minimum mandatory sentence as the person
convicted of possessing 500 grams of powder cocaine. That's a big difference.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once the FSA became law in 2013 it was discovered that it did not apply retroactively to those defendants serving sentences for convictions prior to 2013. Therefore, Congress was urged to enact an amendment allowing those people who were sentenced for possession of crack cocaine prior to 2013 to shorten their sentences.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">On July 18, 2014, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to make the FSA retroactive and applicable to those who were sentenced prior to 2013. According to www.FAMM.org, "</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">46,000 federal drug offenders sentence before November 1, 2014, will now be eligible to file a motion in federal court asking for a shorter sentence. The average sentence reduction for those who qualify will be two years."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This great news but it is tempered with some caveats, however:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px; text-indent: 48px;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">Reductions are not automatic. </span><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">Not everyone sentenced before November 1, 2014, will be eligible for a sentence reduction. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Courts will not begin considering in granting motions percentage reductions until November 1, 2014. Moreover, prisoner releases not begin until the following year, one November 1, 2015 the delay is necessary to give courts and probation officers an opportunity to handle what is expected to be a huge amount of motions percentage reductions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px; text-indent: 48px;">To find out if you or a loved one are eligible </span><span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">For a retroactive since introduction you should </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;">call Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Attorney Rhett
Spano at </span><st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;" w:st="on">(225) <st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" w:st="on">387-8327</st1:phone></st1:phone><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;"> or
email your question to </span><a href="mailto:rspano1@gmail.com" style="font-size: 14pt;">rspano1@gmail.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;">. You
can also visit my website at </span><a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" style="font-size: 14pt;" title="Law Office of Rhett Spano">http://www.rhettspanolaw.com</a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com0320 Somerulos Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA30.4445537 -91.185912000000033.1500567000000004 -132.49450600000003 57.7390507 -49.877318000000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768663036284612609.post-77152363460276536352013-01-28T13:10:00.002-08:002014-08-19T08:37:47.588-07:00What is an Expungement and Why Do I Need One?<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1768663036284612609" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1768663036284612609" name="OLE_LINK1"><u><span style="background: #FDFAF9;">What is an Expungement and Why Do I Need One?<o:p></o:p></span></u></a></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">An expungement
is the legal process by which a record of a criminal conviction is sealed. Obtaining
an expungement is very important because it makes prior criminal convictions more
difficult for employers and others to detect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">Top Reasons To Get
Your Criminal Record Expunged:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">1. <u>Getting a
Job</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">Finding a job
is hard enough without having to deal with the added pressure of a prior
criminal conviction lurking over your head. After your prior criminal record is
expunged, the likelihood of an employer finding out is drastically reduced or
eliminated completely, depending on the job you are applying for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">2. <u>Peace of
Mind</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">Being convicted
of a crime is a life-changing experience that hangs over your head long after
you’ve served your time and repaid your debt to society. Consequently, you never
feel like you can start fresh because your prior conviction is a constant
reminder of the past. Obtaining an expungement will help you feel truly free to
move forward and start fresh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">3. <u>Getting a
Loan</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">This may come
as a surprise, but a prior criminal conviction will most likely be viewed
adversely by a financial institution. Often, banks evaluating your credit
worthiness will view a prior criminal conviction as a sign that you will be
unable to repay a loan timely. As a result, they may use information of a prior
criminal conviction to disqualify your loan application. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">4. <u>Adoption</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">Starting a
family is a common desire, and if you have a prior criminal conviction and want
to adopt a child, your chances of doing so may be lessened by the presence of a
prior criminal conviction. That's why getting your record expunged is so
important. Fifteen states have made it illegal for any person with a prior
criminal conviction to adopt a child. However, obtaining an expungement could
increase your chances of adopting a child as long as your prior criminal conviction
did not involve a child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">5. <u>Relationships<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">Finding that
special person to share your life with is a wonderful experience, but a prior
criminal conviction could put your relationship in jeopardy. We live in a tech
savvy world where gaining access to personal information is often just a click
away. Criminal convictions are public record which means that anyone can easily
discover that you have a prior criminal history. Often, a cautious girlfriend
or boyfriend is willing to pay a nominal fee to obtain a background check. That
is why getting an expungement is crucial to ensure your former misdeeds don’t
jeopardize your current relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">6. <u>It's
relatively Easy and Inexpensive</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFAF9;">In most instances,
a prior criminal conviction or arrest can be expunged as long as you have
completed your sentence, probation or parole and paid all of your fines.
Compared to the cost of losing a good paying job, not receiving a necessary
loan or losing out on a relationship with someone special, an expungement is
very inexpensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">So what are you waiting for? Call Baton Rouge Criminal
Defense Attorney Rhett Spano now at <st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" w:st="on">(225) <st1:phone o:ls="trans" phonenumber="$6387$$$" w:st="on">387-8327</st1:phone></st1:phone>
for a free consultation regarding an expungement. Or you can email me a
question at </span><a href="mailto:rspano1@gmail.com"><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">rspano1@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">. Also, be sure to visit my website at </span><a href="http://www.rhettspanolaw.com/" target="_blank" title="Link"><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.rhettspanolaw.com</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">for additional information regarding selecting a
criminal defense attorney</span><span style="background-color: #fdfaf9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;">
for your expungement.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135305643114532591noreply@blogger.com1320 Somerulos Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA30.4445537 -91.185912000000033.1500567000000004 -132.49450600000003 57.7390507 -49.877318000000031