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Archive for the ‘Criminal Records & Expungement’ Category
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Technology. It is constantly growing since the time it began with man and the wheel in the Stone Age. Today, society has become very dependent on technology as a whole as well as all of the possibilities and functions it entails. From televisions, computers, and telecommunication devices. However, one of the greatest inventions to date is the cellular phone. The cell phone has evolved from large bulky forms to that of being pocket sized items always ready for the go. Yet, with greater technology come greater responsibilities, and problems.
With the newest and greatest cell phones being referred to as smart phones, there are so many more possibilities. These phones have capability of downloading all new technology, as well as some one’s personal information. A new application called “Docket In Your Pocket” lets users get a true sense of every aspect of the law, even the personal information of other individuals within Pennsylvania, and the country. The application can basically be used as a background check for others, which shows if there are past or present criminal charges. However, this application is causing a large stir within Pennsylvania.
Privacy is something that can be found rarely in the world today. With applications similar to this, many people can easily be screened in a matter of moments in order to see almost their entire past laid out on just a very small screen. However, one issue with this application is accuracy. Some individuals who have had past discrepancies with the law are having a few more issues than just “dirty laundry” shown. It has been seen that those with past charges that have been expunged still show up on such an application, which can greatly impact an individual’s life.
With false accuracy, a person’s life can change drastically. Jobs, opportunities, and even family achievements can easily be impacted by this falsehood. Even worse, one can only imagine the series of lawsuits that can reoccur from such an instance. Inevitably, when a person is dealing with searching for a criminal record on an individual it is always best to do it with a state or federal law enforcement agency.
When you have been charged with a criminal offense, you want an experienced defense lawyer protecting your rights every step of the way. I am attorney Michael V. Worgul, and from my offices in Pittsburgh, I have dedicated my entire career to criminal defense. Having handled over 1,000 cases, I know what to expect in court and I am not afraid of a challenge. To start your case call 1-855-DUI-CRIM today!
Tags: Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney
Posted in Criminal Records & Expungement | Comments Off
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
It is a very unfair reality that a mere arrest in Pennsylvania can affect your future. Contrary to the well-established legal principle that a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty, an arrest can have the same long-term damaging impact on your reputation and future job prospects as a conviction. Background checks have never been easier and may be used by someone you are dating, a potential employer or a prospective landlord. An arrest is nothing more than an accusation, which may be completely without merit. Many people presume that once the charges against them are dismissed or they are vindicated at trial that they no longer have to worry about their arrest record. Unfortunately, a Pennsylvania arrest may still show up if someone conducts a criminal background check. An experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney may be able to help you remove this blemish.
A criminal arrest record can hurt your employment opportunities, career advancement, educational opportunities and even your personal relationships. An experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney can file a motion/petition to have your arrest record expunged so that charges that were without merit cannot continue to haunt your personal and professional life. Even if the charges against you are 20 years old, an arrest for a felony may still affect you when discovered by a romantic interest, creditor, landlord, educational institution or professional licensing agency. If an arrest is expunged or cleared from your record, you receive a clean slate free of the stigma of your prior criminal arrest. Once an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney has successfully had your prior arrest expunged, you are legally allowed to say that the arrest never occurred on documents such as job applications, rental applications, or for many other purposes.
The expungement process involves filing a motion/petition with the court and sending a copy to the prosecutor’s office within the jurisdiction where your arrest occurred. The court will schedule a hearing where the judge will consider the specific facts of your case and verify your record. Your criminal defense attorney and the prosecutor will be able to make arguments to the court about the appropriateness of having your arrest record expunged.
Unfortunately, a criminal conviction cannot be expunged in Pennsylvania. However, you may be able to obtain a pardon. Pennsylvania’s Board of Pardons processes pardon applications and is empowered pardon a number of crimes. It may be difficult to obtain a pardon but many people in Pennsylvania do so successfully with the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney.
A person doing a background check need do nothing more than go on the Internet to find information about your criminal record. The availability of your criminal record means that any blemish can have long lasting consequences. Our experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys can advise you on whether you are eligible for an expungement or pardon. If you qualify for an expungement or pardon, we will diligently work on your behalf to clear your name and protect your future.
With a focus on thorough preparation, superior client service and dedicated representation, I help families and individuals solve a wide range of DUI and criminal litigation issues.
I will respond to your email submission as promptly as possible. I ask that you consider calling me, Pittsburgh expungements lawyer Michael V. Worgul, directly at 1-412-475-9217 or toll free at 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. You will also find out how our practice can be put to work for you.
I look forward to listening to the circumstances of your case and discussing all available options under the law.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Worgul
Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943
Tags: Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney, Pennsylvania Expungements, Pittsburgh expungement lawyer
Posted in Criminal Records & Expungement, Expungements | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
If you have been charged with a crime in Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania, the first, and sometimes most important hearing you will have is the Preliminary Hearing. It is one of the earliest times that you will be in front of a Judge and is a critical stage in the criminal process. Make no mistake, in order to receive the best criminal defense in Pittsburgh, you should have an experienced Pittsburgh Defense Lawyer present.
In Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania, the Preliminary Hearing is almost always held in front of a Magisterial District Judge. Most Allegheny County defense lawyers who practice criminal law know that there are specific facts that the prosecutor must prove to have the case moved from the Magistrate’s office to the Allegheny County Courts of Common Pleas for trial. In order for this to happen, the prosecution must prove that, more likely than not:
- A crime has been committed; and
- You are the person who has committed it.
Contact Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Michael V. Worgul now at (412) 4754-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM to schedule a consultation.
Proving the case for the prosecution is not always cut and dry. Sometimes, the prosecution can run into evidentiary problems that a qualified Allegheny County defense lawyer, like me, will know how to exploit. There can be opportunities for a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer to have the charges reduced or even dismissed (witness does not show or changes the testimony) for reasons outside the prosecution’s control.
As a practicing Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer for many years, I have learned several strategies to implement at the Preliminary Hearing for your benefit:
- Discovery – The Preliminary Hearing is the best tool to test the veracity of the prosecution witnesses and find holes in their case. If there actually is a hearing, a top crimes lawyer in Pittsburgh will ensure the presence of a certified court reporter to transcribe the testimony. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen witnesses testify at a Preliminary Hearing and then completely change their story at a later court date.
- Dismissal / Reduction – Through the hearing or a waiver of the hearing, I may be able to have your charges reduced from felonies to misdemeanors, or even to summary level offences. There is also a tendency for the prosecution to overcharge you with extra crimes that you did not commit. I have significant trial experience which enables me to pick out these charges and effectively argue for their dismissal. If we have the charges dismissed at the hearing, you will be immediately entitled to an expungement of those charges off your criminal record.
- Bail – It is not uncommon that you or a loved one might be in jail as a result of the charges. If this is the case, having a strong hearing or waiving the hearing is an effective way to convince the Magistrate to set an ROR (released on own recognizance) bail. However, there are very particular situations where an experienced Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer will actually ask the Magistrate to increase bail (usually where probation detainers exist).
It is important to remember that the burden of proof at a Preliminary Hearing is not “beyond a reasonable doubt.” That standard does not apply until the case reaches the Allegheny County Courts of Common Pleas. Nor is the defense permitted to raise any defenses at the hearing beyond alleging (1) that the prosecution’s evidence does not add up to Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania crime or (2) that the defendant is not the person who committed the crime.
If you have been charged with a crime in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, contact me, Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Michael V. Worgul. With a focus on thorough preparation, superior client service and dedicated representation, I help families and individuals solve a wide range of DUI and criminal litigation issues.
I will respond to your email submission as promptly as possible. I ask that you consider calling me directly at 1-412-475-9217 or toll free at 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. You will also find out how our practice can be put to work for you.
I look forward to listening to the circumstances of your case and discussing all available options under the law.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Worgul
Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943
Tags: Best Criminal Defense in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer, Preliminary Hearing
Posted in Criminal Defense, Criminal Records & Expungement, Criminal Trial Process | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
I recently had a client ask me, “On your resume, how do you say you have a criminal record?” That question really sums up what can be a major problem for people with one or two minor criminal offenses in their past. The better question would be, “Who do you call to clear a criminal record in Pittsburgh, PA?” The short answer is a Pennsylvania criminal attorney. Hiring an Allegheny County Defense Lawyer can help you achieve the future employment or educational opportunities you are missing because of a prior criminal record.
What most people don’t know is that every time a person is merely charged with a crime, Pennsylvania criminal records are created within several agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police and the local Court of Common Pleas. Many people believe that dismissed charges in PA will automatically be expunged upon dismissal. This is not true. It is also not true that if you seal a PA criminal record, no one will see it. Sealing a criminal record is not the same as criminal record expungement.
The first step is to contact an experienced Pennsylvania Criminal Attorney at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM to determine if your criminal record is expungeable.
If your record contains a felony, your record cannot be expunged (though you may want to seek a Governor’s Pardon). However, some misdemeanor criminal records, most juvenile criminal records, and almost all summary criminal records can be expunged. For example, living in a city with many colleges, a very common process that I handle is Pennsylvania underage drinking expungement. People also hire me to have their driving record expunged as well (this can actually be very important).
Often, the best way to ensure that your criminal record will be expunged is to hire a Pittsburgh Defense Attorney as early in the case as possible. He will understand potential strategies to increase the likelihood that the Pennsylvania criminal records will be expunged someday, if not immediately. All too often I have been approached by a person who did not think they would need a lawyer to clear a record. However, because the case was not handled with an eye toward expungement, the record is no longer expungeable.
I am Pennsylvania Criminal Attorney Michael V. Worgul. I have helped many people erase what is otherwise a very embarrassing chapter in their life. I may be able to do the same for you. To determine whether your criminal record is right for expungement, contact me at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM. I will be happy to schedule an appointment at no charge to you.
Tags: Pennsylvania Criminal Attorney, Pennsylvania Expungements Attorney
Posted in Criminal Defense, Criminal Records & Expungement | Comments Off
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