An arrest and conviction of a crime goes into the legal records, which could limit future employment opportunities. Even if you have served your time, a criminal record can easily cause you to fail a background check conducted by a potential employer. Ex-convicts are treated differently by the society. People are often hesitant to trust them, making it difficult to start over once released. For many people, a criminal background haunts them forever.
For this reason, legal expungement can be an important milestone in a released person's journey to starting back on a productive and law-abiding path. In this process, all legal records regarding arrests and convictions are erased in eyes of the law. There are certain eligibility requirements that need to be met in order for someone to have their criminal records expunged. Those offenders who are currently convicted of any crime cannot apply for their records to be expunged, for example. They have to wait until they have served their sentence before requesting expungement.
Criminal record expungement is much more common with those known as "first time offenders", rather than "seasoned criminals". Many crimes, such as sexual assault and crimes against those under 18 years old, are often ineligible for expungement; eligibility depends on the particular jurisdiction. For this reason, it is wise to consult with a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in these matters.