Can Sex Offenses be Expunged in Oklahoma?

Sex Offenses can be Expunged in Oklahoma but they must meet certain conditions. Having a sex-offense on your permanent record can make life difficult. Under Oklahoma Law, expungements can partially or completely remove a past charge or conviction from public records. Expunging a past offense will improve your employment opportunities and quality of life as a whole. The success of getting a sex-offense expunged depends on a number of factors, but it is possible.

Some Sex-Offenses Are Eligible For Expungement

A court will ultimately have discretion to expunge a sex offense but there are certain conditions that can help to have it sealed from the records. Sex offenders may be eligible to get their records corrected if the crime happened before 1998 and resulted in a deferred sentence. However, an expungement for a sex-offense is most likely unavailable if you were convicted or if the crime occurred after 1998. Additionally, if you are required to register as a sex offender on the sex offender registry in Oklahoma you are probably not eligible for an expungement.

Other circumstances in your case will also matter in determining whether your sex offense may be expunged. In some instances a pardon might be a better option before trying to get the record sealed. Courts will look at the facts behind the charge. With this in mind, effective legal counsel will be able to evaluate your situation and determine if you are eligible.

Violent Felonies Cannot Be Expunged              

Only non-violent felonies are eligible for expungement in Oklahoma. Basically, that would be any crime not listed under  57 O.S. § 571. However, there a number of sex offenses listed in 57 O.S. § 571 and some require a lifetime sex-offender registration. Here are sex-offenses that are “violent” crimes and therefore cannot be expunged:

• Rape in the first or second degree; rape by instrumentation;
• Forcible sodomy;
• Child pornography; aggravated child pornography; child prostitution;
• Lewd or indecent proposition with a child under sixteen (16) years of age; lewd or indecent act with a child under sixteen (16) years of age

Check Out Our Tulsa Lawyers Expungement Blog For More Information.

An Oklahoma Expungement Attorney Near You

Yes, certain sex offenses can be expunged but there are certain requirements. it will takes a qualified expungement attorney to navigate the complexity of many expungement cases. An expungement can seal your record and restore your rights under the law. Certain types of expungements can even allow you to have a firearm. Our Tulsa Oklahoma Expungement Attorneys can help you. Call the Kania Law Office at 918.743.2233 for a confidential consultation.