While the bulk of my criminal defense practice is confined to Miami-Dade and Broward, I do assist clients with sealing or expunging their criminal records in all Florida counties.
The process is governed by statute so it is the same procedure regardless of the county you are in. The only requirement is that the record be sealed or expunged in the county in which the case was disposed.
Remember, you expunge a record when the case was dismissed or was not formally filed. You seal a record where adjudication was withheld. You cannot seal records where the case ended in a conviction (adjudication). You may only seal records where the offense qualifies as eligible.
If you have ever sealed or expunged a record previously, you will not be able to seal or expunge your arrest record. Also, if you have ever been convicted of any crime, including criminal traffic offenses, DUIs, and misdemeanors, you cannot seal or expunge ANY arrest record in the State of Florida.
FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) checks your criminal history nationwide when you apply for a sealing or expungement. This is why you are required to submit fingerprints with your application. FDLE will run your fingerprints through a nationwide database to see if you have ever been convicted of a crime anywhere in the U.S. and whether you have ever sealed or expunged a record before.
Florida remains one of the toughest states in which to clean a criminal record. And of course, you may only clear one arrest from your record. You may erase an arrest record even if you have priors, so long as those priors did not result in convictions.
Few lawyers handle expungements and sealings statewide, but I am happy to assist you regardless of where in Florida your record may be. You may contact me directly in order to discuss the process.