Lake Charles Expungement Attorneys
Comprehensive Guide to Louisiana Expungement Law
Contact Sudduth & Associates at 1-833-SUDDUTH for a Confidential Consultation.
It is extremely important, especially with felonies, that you obtain qualified legal advice as soon as possible after your arrest. The sooner we get involved, the greater your chance is for a more favorable outcome.
We know the stress and anxiety that come with any criminal prosecution and will provide you with a high level of personal attention, serving you with a dedication to the highest standards of practice within the legal profession. Sudduth and Associates are committed to communication and encourage you to bring all your questions and concerns to us. We will keep you fully informed of all developments in your case, as well as your options and your likelihood of success.
One of the most common questions I get asked is in reference to expungements. In this hyper competitive and global economy an employer can know everything they want to know about you by looking at three things: your credit score, standardized test scores, and your criminal record. It's a somewhat concerning truth that we as human beings and all of our fascinating intricacies and personalities can be boiled down so simply but it is a harsh truth that must be faced.
Your criminal record can haunt you for a much longer time than you may realize. Whether it was a mistake we made when we were young or a recent temporary lapse in judgment, the anchors we drop in the criminal justice system can have very long ropes. Those ropes can hold us back from promising careers, educational opportunities, and rewarding lives. So what can you do to untie yourself from that anchor? In Louisiana, you may have the option to get your conviction expunged. First, it is important to note what an expungement is and what it does.
Eligibility
An expungement is a judicial order that hides or erases a criminal conviction/charge/or arrest in very specific circumstances. What makes an expungement so difficult is the many agencies that have to be coordinated in order to achieve the goal. As an example, lets say that someone is arrested, charged, and convicted of a crime. That person will have several numbers in the criminal justice system that they will be trying to get erased, and they are:
- AAID – the arresting agency will have an arrest ID number
- Book In Number – the local parish sheriff will have a book in a number
- DA Number – assuming charges are accepted the DA will have an internal number assigned to your case
- Docket Number – the clerk of court will assign a docket number to your case
- Louisiana State Police – compiles all arrests made in the state for reporting to the FBI
- FBI – will input your arrest and conviction into a national database known as “NCIC”
So What Is Eligible for Expungement?
First, if you are merely arrested for a crime and not charged you can have the arrest expunged. Second, if you are arrested and charged but those charges are later dismissed you can have the arrest and charging documents expunged. Third, lets say that you are arrested, charged, and finally convicted. In regards to a conviction, you can get these expunged in a specific set of circumstances and for the purposes of Part 1, I will focus solely on misdemeanor convictions.
First, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor but that conviction was deferred under La Code of Crim. Pro. Art. 894, then you are eligible for an expungement just as soon as you successfully complete your probation. What if your sentence was not deferred under Article 894? Your attorney can motion the Court to re-sentence you under Article 894 so as to make you eligible for an expungement as soon as you complete your probation. (See Article 881.1(a)(2)).
How Do I Know if I Am Eligible for an 894?
A quick way to know is that you can only have one 894 every 5 years. So if you have used one in the past 5 years, this new charge will not be able to be deferred under Article 894.
Contact the firm today at 1-833-SUDDUTH for an appointment.
The Advantage of a Former Prosecutor on Your Side Client Reviews
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"If having someone on your side that gives a 110% and delivers a quality product is important, then James Sudduth III comes with my highest personal recommendation."If having someone on your side that gives a 110% and delivers a quality product is important, then James Sudduth III comes with my highest personal recommendation.- Chris
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"Superior to all other attorneys in Lake Charles and his Staff is well-above par."James Sudduth is a brilliant legal mind and a premier up and coming attorney. Highly recommend him. Superior to all other attorneys in Lake Charles and his Staff is well-above par.- Former Client
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"Without a doubt, I would recommend James to anybody looking for Lawyer who is looking after their clients best interest."I felt very at ease speaking with James. He listened, took detailed notes and asked for clarification where he felt it was required. Secondly, he gave me some excellent advice regarding my situation, both legal and also mediation.- Former Client
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"They truly care about the legal issues I face, and aren't just 'going through the motions.'"James & his caring team of professionals are a cut above the rest. They truly care about the legal issues I face, and aren't just 'going through the motions.' It's been a tremendous help during this transitional period in my life to have Jame- Ashley
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"James was always professional and considered all of the facts when working towards resolution of matters."James was always professional and considered all of the facts when working towards resolution of matters. He exercised great wisdom in the execution of his job a prosecutor.- Brent
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"If you're looking for an attorney to fight for you, call James."Throughout the entire ordeal, James could not have been more professional, courteous and knowledgeable regarding my employment issue. He was prompt with his responses and could not have shown more compassion for the issue.- Former Client
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"Keep fighting the Good Fight. I give my absolute highest recommendation!"Upon meeting with Mr. Sudduth for the first time, it was very obvious to me that he was well experienced in his areas of practice. He was very communicative, made himself available to address any concerns or needs and was extremely attentive to the details of my case. As thorough, goal-oriented, hard-working and determined as he and his staff were, one attribute stood out among the rest-they genuinely cared about me and my family. This was my first (and hopefully last) experience dealing with this type of litigation and the trauma it caused us, but James was there every step of the way and he fought for me; he fought for a resolution to the injustice I suffered. He cut straight through all of the nonsense and helped change workplace culture to make it a better place to work for everyone. For that, I am extremely grateful and proud that I made the choice to hire him as my attorney. I pray that many blessings come to the Sudduth and Associates team—Keep fighting the Good Fight. I give my absolute highest recommendation!- Rebecca
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"Thank you for saving my future and giving back hope when I was feeling hopeless."Thank you for saving my future and giving back hope when I was feeling hopeless. James Sudduth and Kourtney Kech are my dream team!!- Kari P.
