Work-Related Implications of Having A Criminal Record in New Jersey

Having a criminal history or record in the state of New Jersey can potentially make getting hired for a job problematic. Many employers are requesting criminal background checks and with this, your chances of getting hired over another candidate are slim to none.  Fortunately for you, the state of New Jersey offers the opportunity to expunge your arrest or criminal conviction. With your successful criminal expungement, your ability to obtain a job has broadened and with this, so has your potential to earn more money as well as support yourself and/or family.

By having your criminal record expunged, any past convictions of a crime become greatly limited as to who can access your criminal case/conviction information and data. With an order of expungement, you avoid becoming unjustly excluded from being hired because of record of a past crime. Many employers are apprehensive about hiring someone who has a criminal history for any number or reasons.  Expunging your criminal record eliminates many practical and legal difficulties that may come between yourself and a potential new job. It could also diminish any legal dilemmas you may potentially come across in the future with regards to that conviction.

Once you have successfully expunged your criminal record, an employer in the state of New Jersey cannot use your expunged record against you. Further, an employer should not be able to locate it when requesting a criminal background check. If you have had your criminal record expunged, you do not have to disclose your arrest or conviction. In the state of New Jersey, with certain limitations, criminal records that have been expunged are regarded as not having occurred.

State of New Jersey Criminal Records can be found by Anyone

When considering whether or not to apply for an expungement of your criminal record, you might take into consideration the costs and benefits of the expungement. Frequently, many people wonder if whether requesting an expungement on their criminal record is the right financial move for them. Often, individuals with criminal records do not recognize how frequently the general public accesses their records. Much less, that these records are very easy to look for. The easy access makes it so much more important to know what people can see and what they cannot see from your past criminal history.

Unfortunately, if you are an individual with a criminal past who is struggling to move on, the state of New Jersey has not passed any laws regulating employers who are attempting to obtain your past criminal history information. In the state of New Jersey, an employer who is assessing whether or not to employ you is certainly authorized to obtain all of your New Jersey state criminal history information. All of your records, including any pending arrests and criminal charges for violations in the state of New Jersey will be released to the requesting employer. This is will happen, unless of course the criminal record has been expunged.

Investing in a Criminal Record Expungement

If you have been continuously denied a job based on your criminal record, it is time you consider getting an expungement for your New Jersey criminal record. The expungement of your criminal record is an investment in yourself.

A criminal record expungement is not always a simple process. Simply applying for one incorrectly could not only cost you wasted time, it could also cost you money. Hiring an attorney who will handle your case can help ease the burden for you and can potentially speed the process. Katherine O’Brien is an experienced attorney who has overseen countless expungement cases. The Law Office of Katherine O’Brien can help you understand the expungement process and set you on the right path on to your next job.

Photo by Ben White

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.