Expunge Definition NJ

expunge definition nj In New Jersey, an expungement (also called an expunction or misspelled as “espongement”) is a court-ordered procedure through which the legal record of an arrest or conviction is sealed or erased from an individual’s criminal record for most purposes.

According to the definition of expungement as set forth in the New Jersey expungement statutes, expunged records will include all “complaints, warrants, arrests, commitments, processing records, fingerprints, photographs, index cards, “rap sheets” and judicial docket records.”  Once a record is expunged, N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1, entitled “Definition of Expungement” provides that the records shall be “extract[ed] and isolat[ed].”  

Thus, the definition of expungement itself makes clear that the records will not be completely destroyed or erased.  Rather, they will be segregated and made not generally available to the public.  Thus, once a record is ordered to be expunged, all agencies that have a copy of your records (including the courts, law enforcement agencies, detention or correctional facilities, or criminal justice agencies) will be required to move your expunged records to a separate location.  

Once your criminal records are segregated in this manner, they are no longer publicly available.  Thus, any individuals running a criminal background check on you will not be able to see your records.  This means that landlords, acquaintances, creditors, or employers conducting background checks will not be able to see the expunged records and, instead, will be advised that no records exists in response to their search.  

$895 – New Jersey Expungement Lawyers

At Katherine O’Brien Law, our New Jersey expungement lawyers offer the affordable prices when it comes to criminal record expungements.  Our flat-rate, all-inclusive fee for a criminal record expungement is only $895.00.  Moreover, we also offer flexible payment plans and can start working on your case today for as little as $350.00 down.  

If you have questions about the definition or effect or an expungement in New Jersey, contact us today for your free Expungement Analysis Session by filling out our Expungement Interview Form or by calling us at 856-832-2482.

Katherine O'Brien

New Jersey expungement lawyer Katherine North O’Brien has been practicing expungement law for her entire career and has handled hundreds of complex criminal record expungements. She has also assisted in the drafting of briefs on expungement issues before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Katherine is passionate about helping people clean their criminal records and, therefore, started Katherine O’Brien Law to offer those with criminal convictions a fresh start.