What crimes Cannot be expunged in SC?
Asked by: Reina Rath | Last update: April 16, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (17 votes)
- Traffic convictions CANNOT be expunged (with the exception of a 1st offense failure to stop for a blue light).
- Fish and wildlife convictions CANNOT be expunged.
- Convictions for felonies and heinous crimes are not automatically qualified for expungement.
What crimes cannot be expunged in South Carolina?
What is ineligible for an Expungement? Certain traffic convictions and convictions classified as violent crimes under Section 16-1-60 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976, as amended) cannot be expunged. If conditions/requirements are not met, then by law, expungements cannot be processed.
How long does a felony stay on your record in South Carolina?
Like misdemeanors, for expungement in South Carolina, felonies will stay on your record indefinitely unless those charges are eligible for an expungement and you follow the legal process to have those records expunged.
How much does it cost to have your criminal record expunged in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to have a charge expunged? Fees are determined by South Carolina law. In general, conviction fees are $250 to the Solicitor's Office, $25 to SLED and $35 to the Clerk of Court. However, fees are not due at the time of application.
What felony convictions can be expunged?
California Law
For example, in California, felony convictions can only be expunged if: no time was served in state prison, felony probation was successfully completed, and. you are not currently facing criminal charges, on probation, or serving another sentence.
What if My Conviction Can't Be Expunged? | Charleston SC Criminal Defense Attorney
Do felony charges ever go away?
Dismissed felony charges can usually be sealed or expunged right away. In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.
How to find out if your criminal record has been expunged?
You can contact the court that issued the expungement order to determine if your records have been successfully expunged or sealed.
What is the second chance law in South Carolina?
April is widely known as Second Chance Month. South Carolina's expungement system allows for multiple charges to be expunged from a person's criminal record, depending on the convictions.
Is a pardon better than an expungement?
Unlike expungement, a pardon does not erase a criminal record. Instead, it is a formal forgiveness for the crime, relieving the individual from the legal consequences associated with the conviction.
Who can see expunged records in South Carolina?
What is an expungement? Under SC law, you can apply to have certain South Carolina arrests, charges, or convictions placed under seal so they are no longer public record. Once they are sealed, these records can only be used for limited law enforcement purposes and otherwise can only be disclosed by court order.
Will a felony show up on a background check after 10 years?
Under Cal. Civ. Code 1786.18(a)(7), California mandates that a conviction can't be reported when it's older than seven years. Arrests that didn't lead to convictions can't be reported regardless of how much time has elapsed.
How far back does a criminal background check go in South Carolina?
Information seven or more years old about arrests that did not result in convictions, civil judgments, liens, civil lawsuits, bankruptcies, and collection accounts will not be reported. If the positions you are offering pay salaries of $75,000 or more, the seven-year lookback period will not apply.
Can a non-violent felon own a firearm in SC?
If you are caught as a felon in possession of a firearm, then the feds might prosecute you. They give special attention to those convicted of violent or drug-related felonies—but even those with nonviolent felonies are prohibited from possession under Section 922(g).
How do I clean my background check?
There are two ways to have your criminal record cleared: having the criminal record sealed or getting the records expunged. Reputable California attorneys will provide their clients with legal advice to help them determine what is the best way to clear criminal records.
What can a felon not do in South Carolina?
A criminal conviction also takes away a basic right – the right to vote. In most state, felons lose this right, also called “felon disenfranchisement.” In South Carolina, upon conviction, individuals lose their right to vote until completion of their sentence, including parole and probation.
What is the difference between vacated and expunged?
While you can than legally say that you've never been convicted of a crime, you cannot say that you've never been charged with a crime. And while the conviction has been vacated, it is still open to the public. Expungement refers to the removal of this non-conviction data from state patrol records.
What is partial expungement?
A “Partial” or “991c” expungement clears a person's court record associated with a criminal matter (at the Court Clerk's office, oscn.com, and odcr.com), but it does not expunge the arrest record associated with the incident.
What is the 85% law in SC?
Under S.C. Code § 24-13-150, Early release, a person convicted of a no-parole offense is not eligible for parole and cannot be released until they have served at least 85% of their sentence.
Does expungement restore gun rights in SC?
Under certain circumstances, it is possible to have your gun rights restored after serving time as a convicted felon. A convicted felon can get their gun rights back by expunging their felony convictions, applying for a restoration of gun rights, or requesting a pardon from the governor.
What is the common enemy rule in South Carolina?
Charlotte, Columbia, & Augusta R.R., SC Sup. Ct. (1893) established what is called the common-enemy rule to deal with diffused surface water, i.e., stormwater, Every landowner has a right to take any measure necessary to the protection of his own property from the ravages of surface water.
Does a felony go away after 7 years?
Felony convictions are not automatically expunged with the passage of time but require the filing and granting of an Expungement Petition by the Court. Many felony cases are "wobblers"; that is, they can be reduced to misdemeanors (even after many years) and then expunged in the same court proceeding.
How to apply for expungement in SC?
Pursuant to the South Carolina Code of Laws, a criminal record may only be expunged through an application to the court, which must be signed by a judge. An individual should contact the solicitor's office in the area where the charge originated to seek assistance and obtain an application, which does require a fee.
Will an expunged record show up on a federal background check?
A Level 2 FBI Background Check
A Level 2 check will even uncover those sealed or expunged records – especially if they involve the mistreatment of children, the elderly, or the disabled.
Can a felon get a passport?
Yes, a convicted felon can usually get a passport, but it depends on the felony and other factors: Felony typeSome felonies can automatically disqualify you from getting a passport, including: International drug trafficking Trafficking minors "Sex tourism" offenses Treason.