CRIMINAL HISTORY EXPUNGEMENT

Let Me Help you Clean Your Criminal History

Have you been denied a job, denied the ability to purchase a firearm, trying to buy auto insurance at a reasonable rate, denied financial aid, or unable to rent a home or an apartment due a criminal background check? These are just a few common life occurrences that can be directly impacted by what appears on your criminal history, whether you were convicted of a crime or simply arrested. 

An “expungement” is the process in which an order is sought from the courts that orders the State of Louisiana, among others, to remove, erase, or clean convictions and arrests from your criminal history and public records. While there are some exemptions, an expungement will remove convictions or arrests from your criminal history so that they do not show up when a prospective employer, insurance company, or landlord conducts a criminal history check. 

Who is eligible to have their criminal history expunged? With a few exceptions, most felonies and misdemeanors convictions are eligible for expungement in Louisiana. Additionally, all arrests that did not result in a conviction can be expunged. 

How long does it take? Realistically, between 90 to 120 days from the start of the process until the item is removed from your criminal history. This can vary with the scheduling of the court and if objections to the expungement are asserted by the State. 

Do I have to appear in court? No, most all expungements can be handled by my office without you having to appear in court, or coming to my office.

Costs? expungements are set according to a statutory fee and i can assist you at consultation in explaining those fees. I charge a flat rate attorney fee for the expungements. Just give me a call at 318-792-8443 or email me at and i will give you a fee quote.

Filing for expungement in Louisiana will require a person to complete several forms. Depending on the record petitioned for expungement, an application may be required to obtain a certification of fee waiver attesting that the Office of the District Attorney has reviewed and verified that the applicant has no felony convictions, has no pending felony charges, and was acquitted, was not prosecuted, the case was dismissed, the district attorney declined to prosecute, or the applicant was found innocent.

An applicant is also required to complete a motion for expungement that includes essential information about a defendant, arrest information, information for arrests that did not result in a conviction, misdemeanor convictions, and felony convictions.

In cases involving an offense of OWI, DUI, or DWI, an applicant will need to attach proof from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles, that it has received a certified copy of the record of the plea, fingerprints of the defendant, and proof of the requirements set forth in Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure § 556.

Applicants are also required to submit a criminal background check form dated within the past 60 days, any bills of information, court minutes, certification letters from the district attorney (if applicable), and/or documentation proving you have been employed for the past 10 years (if applicable).

An affidavit of response from the district attorney may also be required to specify whether the agency consents to the waiver of a contradictory hearing or requests a contradictory hearing. An order of expungement of arrest/conviction record is also required.

Individual cases may also require the filing of supplemental sheets listing either arrests that did not result in convictions or other misdemeanor convictions.

If you are interested in securing an expungement of your criminal records here is what you will need:

First you need a copy of your criminal history. you secure this from the Louisiana State Police:

To obtain a copy of your criminal history in Louisiana, you need to submit a request in person or by mail, along with the required fees and documentation.

Steps to Request Your Criminal History

The Louisiana State police website tells us that, pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 15:588, individuals can obtain a certified copy of their criminal history information record, known as a “Right to Review”.

The Right to Review can now be obtained using the Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS). LAPS provides a statewide network of fingerprint sites at which applicants can submit digital fingerprints in their local communities. Applicants for the Right to Review Process can schedule a fingerprint appointment online, show up for the appointment and pay for the service, and then receive their Right to Review criminal history report either via mail or email.

Right to Review Options:

  • Mail Copy Right to Review – This option will queue up in our system and our staff will print a copy of the criminal history and mail it to the requestor. It will be stamped “True Copy” and will be signed by one of our employees. It will be embossed with a raised state seal. There are certain instances where agencies such as the Secretary of State require printed copies with raised seals and this option will satisfy that requirement. For Right to Review reports related to expungements, some agencies may require both the criminal history report and printed fingerprint cards. Printed fingerprint cards can be obtained separately from either a local sheriff’s office or police department, an IdentoGO location that provides full fingerprinting services as part of a separate process at State Police Headquarters for an additional fee. This option is recommended for all purposes, including personal inquiry.
  • Electronic Copy Right to Review – This option will deliver a secure link to an email that will provide a one-time access to the criminal history report, which can then be printed ONLY from a computer. This report cannot be downloaded to a mobile device and the secure link is only available for 30 days. After 30 days, the link will expire and cannot be accessed. The report will be marked “True Copy” at the top of the first page and the bottom of the last page and will have one of our employee’s digital signature. This option is recommended for personal inquiry purposes only.

To request personal certified criminal records in person, complete the Right to Review Disclosure Form and submit it together with a $26 fee for processing and a valid state-issued ID or Drivers License. An extra $10 fee for fingerprinting is also required. Fees are payable by money order, business check, or cashier’s check to the Department of Public Safety. Payments must not be made with cash or personal checks. In-person requests are available from Monday to Friday (except for holidays) between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm. Applications submitted after 3:00 pm will get a response the following next business day via mail or pick up. Requestors that desire a same-day response should submit their requests before 3:00 pm.

In-person requests should be made at:

Bureau of Criminal Identification
7919 Independence Blvd,
Baton Rouge, LA

By mail

Requestors should mail a set of their fingerprints, required fees, and a completed Authorization Form and Rap Disclosure Form, which should include the person’s name and address. The required fee is $26, payable by money order, business check, or cashier’s check to the Department of Public Safety. Payments must not be made with cash or personal checks. Mail-in requests should be sent to:

Bureau of Criminal Identification
PO. Box 66614 Mail Slip A–6
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Note that the mail process takes approximately 15–21 business days from the time of submission and payment.

Once you have your criminal history you will need to secure the following:

FEES (Non-Refundable) Each expungement must be accompanied by four (4) separate MONEY ORDERS or a Certification of Fee Waiver.

  1. LA Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information – $250.00
  2. Catahoula Parish District Attorney – $50.00
  3. Catahoula Parish Sheriff – $50.00
  4. Catahoula Parish Clerk of Court – $200.00
  5. (For a DUI only) Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles – $50.00.

In some cases you can get a fee waiver if you were arrested but never prosecuted.

If you are trying to expunge a DUI, then there are additional steps you need to do before you can get an expungement. For DUI convictions you also need two fingerprint identification cards and

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure § 977.D.(2) provides that expungement of a misdemeanor OWI, DUI, or DWI offense can occur only once during a ten-year period. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 972, et seq. establishes that expungement “means removal of a record from public access but does not mean destruction of the record,” and an expunged record is confidential but remains available for use by:

  • Law enforcement or criminal justice agencies
  • The Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions
  • Office of Disciplinary Counsel
  • Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
  • Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
  • Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners
  • Louisiana State Board of Nursing
  • Louisiana State Board of Dentistry
  • Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board
  • Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission

The expunged record is also available to any person or entity requesting a criminal record of all criminal arrests and convictions pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute § 15:587.1.

Two other articles of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure that could factor into expungement concerns in OWI, DUI, or DWI cases are Article 893 and Article 894.

  • Article 893 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure allows for the suspension and deferral of sentence and probation in felony cases
  • Article 894 provides for the suspension and deferral of sentence and probation in misdemeanor cases.

When a person accepts an 893 or 894 plea, they agree to enter a plea of guilty in exchange for a sentence of probation, after which successful completion results in the dismissal of prosecution and allows for a person to petition for expungement.

Expungement is not automatic, and it can be a perilous journey for a person to attempt to try to expunge their criminal record on their own. You will certainly benefit from having skilled legal guidance along the way.

You will likely want to preserve your ability to expunge your record as soon as you are charged with a drunk or drugged driving crime in Louisiana. An experienced attorney may also be able to assist you in obtaining a sentence in accordance with Article 893 or 894,that could allow you to petition for expungement of your record.

Expungements are often denied for reasons that could have been avoided with proper preparation. For example, failure to attach sufficient documentation from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles may result in an automatic denial in OWI, DUI, or DWI cases.

Expungements do not restore firearm rights, you can schedule a consultation to discuss the possible remedies and pitfalls of restoration of firearm rights with me.

If you want a fresh start with a clean criminal history, I can help. I am a criminal history expungement attorney with years of experience that can assist you in removing arrests or convictions from your criminal history right the first time. Give Me a call today at (318)239-4277 to schedule a free initial consultation regarding your expungement needs. Let us help restore your life!