We have discussed Certifications of Restoration of Opportunity, commonly known as CROPs, before in this blog. To summarize, people with a criminal record who are denied an expungement or vacated conviction can seek a CROP as a way of relieving the lingering effects of a conviction on their daily life — lost job opportunities, denied professional licenses, rejected housing applications and so forth.
Ineligible types of crimes
Getting approved for a CROP can significantly improve your life after you have paid your debt to society. But certain crimes are ineligible for CROPs, including:
- All Class A felonies (such as 1st- and 2nd-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon)
- Any sex offense or anything that requires you to register as a sex offender
- Crimes that involved a “sexual motivation”
- Luring (meaning, bringing a child or developmentally disabled adult into a vehicle or private location with the intention of harming the person’s health, safety or welfare)
- Extortion
- Drive-by shootings
But if the crime for which you were convicted is not a part of that list, you might qualify for a CROP. If approved, you can begin to move on from your prior mistakes. Without one, you may struggle to get a job or get approved for a lease or mortgage, even after you have served your sentence and have abided by the terms of your release.
The process of applying for a CROP can be complicated. An attorney who focuses on redemption law on behalf of clients with a criminal record will know the CROP process. They can help you with the procedures and give you the best possible chance of success.