If the expunction process is successful, the court orders for expungement, meaning that the records can’t be released or used for any reason. You can deny ever being arrested or about the expunction unless you are asked about it while under oath during a trial. Even so, you can only mention that the record was deleted and, therefore, not reveal any details regarding your history.

There are criminal records in the state of Texas, which can be sealed by the court under an Order of Nondisclosure. The general public is prohibited from viewing a criminal history that has been sealed. According to the Texas law, agencies that have access to your sealed criminal information can only disclose such details to you and other licensing, criminal justice organizations, and employment firms that are allowed by the law as specified under the Texas Government Code 411.076 (2018).

You might be eligible for the conviction of set aside if you had been convicted then received and successfully managed to complete probation. If your conviction is successfully set aside, then your criminal history might appear in some background checks through the records will show that they were dismissed after not being found guilty. There are certain criminal offenses such as Driving Under the Influence and other felonies that do not qualify to be set aside. It is important to note that there are individual counties in the state of Texas that do not allow or grant set-asides. You can talk to your criminal defense attorney to find out if you are eligible for a set aside.

If you are serving probation, then you might have a chance for early termination or reduced time through a court petition with the help of your lawyer. In order to be eligible, you have to clear all outstanding fees, restitution, and fines. You should also complete all the court-ordered classes. The judge is then required to make a decision if discharging you early from probation is the right choice.

The state of Texas, you can apply for a pardon, and if successful, your gun rights can be restored after a deferred adjudication or conviction. To be eligible for a pardon, you must prove to have exemplary behavior as a result of rehabilitation. Your criminal defense attorney will likely recommend expunction or nondisclosure instead of a pardon if you qualify. If you are not eligible for an expunction, then a pardon will increase your chances to expunge your criminal record.

In a situation where your civil rights are lost in the state of Texas as a consequence of a federal crime or a conviction in another nation, you can request for restoration of civil rights. There are particular offenses such as drugs, violence, and illegal possession of guns that are not eligible for civil rights restoration. In the case where you have a conviction of a federal; crime, then you have to wait for up to 3 years from the time of conviction before applying. If, however, you were convicted while in another country, then you have to wait for up to 2 years from the time of your conviction to the date of submission.

Texas law provides an opportunity for you to petition your case for juvenile record sealing. For you to be eligible for record sealing, you should have no convictions, whether a misdemeanor, felony, or adjudications, since the time of your discharge. Another qualification for the record sealing is that you mustn’t have served a determinate sentence in a juvenile penitentiary. You are required to wait for two years from the time of your discharge though if there was no adjudication, then you won’t have to go through a waiting period.