Expunging Your Federal Criminal Record After Conviction in NYC

| by Max Soni

Last Updated on: 15th December 2023, 07:11 pm

Expunging Your Federal Criminal Record After Conviction in NYC

Having a criminal record can make life real tough. It can be hard to get a job, find housing, qualify for student loans–the list goes on. If you’ve been convicted of a federal crime in NYC, you may be wondering if there’s a way to get the conviction expunged (removed) from your record.

Well, I got some good news and bad news for ya. The bad news is that federal convictions generally can’t be expunged. Once you’re convicted under federal law, that crime stays on your record forever. Bummer, I know.

But don’t lose all hope! Here’s the good news–even if you can’t get a federal conviction expunged, NYC has a new law called the Fair Chance Act that can help. This law bans most employers from asking about or considering criminal convictions that are over 10 years old. It also bans arrests that didn’t lead to a conviction. So even if you can’t erase that federal conviction, potential employers might not see or care about it after 10 years. Pretty neat!

Trying to Get a Federal Conviction Expunged

I know–you probably still want to get that federal conviction gone for good. Can’t blame ya! Let’s talk about a couple ways you could potentially get a federal conviction expunged:

• Presidential pardon – The President has the power to fully pardon federal crimes. This is super rare though.
• Post-conviction relief – You could try filing a petition claiming your conviction was improper in some way. Also rare to succeed.
• Youthful convictions – There are special expungement rules for crimes committed as a minor. Won’t apply for most folks.

So in most cases, having a federal conviction expunged is real unlikely. But hey, maybe you’ll get lucky! Doesn’t hurt to explore your options if having that conviction gone would really help you out. Talk to a lawyer to understand if any of these routes could work.

Dealing with a Federal Conviction in Your Life

Even if you can’t get that federal conviction erased, there are still things you can do to lessen its impact and move forward with your life:

1. Be patient – Over time, the conviction becomes less important to folks.
2. Be honest – Don’t try to hide your past. Come clean if it comes up.
3. Highlight your strengths – Focus on the positive things you bring to the table.
4. Consider a career change – Choose a field that cares less about criminal records.
5. Help others – Use your experience to support people facing similar struggles.

It ain’t easy having a record–I get it. Keep your chin up and take it step-by-step. Stay persistent chasing your goals. You got this!

Federal Conviction Protections in NYC

Thanks to NYC’s Fair Chance Act, there are some useful protections in place for those with federal convictions:

• Most employers cannot ask about or consider convictions over 10 years old
• Arrests that didn’t lead to conviction cannot be considered at all
• Employers must evaluate you fairly and not discriminate based on your conviction history
• Violators of the Fair Chance Act can face fines up to $250k

So while that federal conviction may always stay on your record, these NYC protections stop it from haunting your life forever. Over time, you’ll have increasing rights and opportunities. Pretty sweet deal, huh?

Well, I hope this gives you some ideas on handling that federal conviction history. Hit me up if ya have any other questions! Stay determined and believe in yourself–you deserve a fair chance.

Sources:

• Department of Justice – Pardon Information
• NYC Commission on Human Rights – Fair Chance Act