Redemption Law

Ever since the late 1980s, people have had to look at criminal convictions a little bit differently. This is because DNA evidence was starting to be used in exonerations. Specifically, 1989 saw the first exoneration based on DNA evidence. This means that an individual...

Everyone makes mistakes. Most people learn from those mistakes; however, that one mistake haunts them for the rest of their lives. They deserve a second chance. Fortunately, having your criminal record vacated can provide that. What does it mean to have a conviction...

Washington's redemption laws provide fresh opportunities for those with a criminal offense or arrest in their history. There is the newer Redemption or Second Chance Law, which allows those sentenced as minors to request a review of their case. There is also record...

As discussed several times in this blog, Washington State law does not automatically expunge or seal criminal records. If you have ever been convicted of a crime in this state, it will stay on your record for the rest of your life unless you take action to request...

Most people in the Seattle-Tacoma region who get their criminal records expunged find more and better job opportunities. It usually does not take long before their income and quality of life have gotten much better. More money in the bank can mean a nicer vehicle and...

Getting out of prison is huge. You can put the indignities and lack of freedom of prison life behind you and reunite with your family and friends. But that doesn't mean going back to civilian life is easy for someone with a criminal record. Though you might have paid...

You may have heard of the Certificate of Discharge (COD) and the Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP). The names are somewhat similar and they both have to do with restoring your civil rights after completing a criminal sentence. But they are not the same...

The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Many people in the Seattle area take their right to own guns for protection, hunting or recreation for granted. But if you have convictions for certain crimes on your record, the law says you cannot own or...

When you were young, having a lucrative and fulfilling career may have not been your primary concern. As an adult, though, a conviction from young adulthood may interfere with your ability to obtain a professional license. If you cannot work in your chosen field...

Washington was one of the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. But it may be falling behind in another way: authorizing automatic expungement for past marijuana-related criminal convictions. Washington State does not currently have automatic...