No one should have to pay for a mistake forever. In the State of Nevada, you can usually have your criminal records sealed after a specified time. This keeps arrests, criminal charges, convictions, and sentencing information out of background checks for employment, housing, loans, etc., and allows you to answer “No” on applications and in interviews that ask about a criminal record.
The dedicated attorneys of Adras & Altig have extensive record-sealing experience in Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is a complex procedure with multiple hurdles, but if you qualify, we can get it done for you. Once the court orders your record sealed in Nevada, what was on it is considered to have never happened. So your life could get better instantly.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your criminal record and how we can stop it from holding you back. We pride ourselves on being responsive to our client’s real-world needs — not just law book theory. Our Las Vegas record-sealing attorneys will act quickly to determine your right to a clean slate. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
Our Attorneys Do All the Legwork for Sealing Nevada Criminal Records
There are several steps to obtaining a court order to seal criminal records in Nevada. They must be followed accurately, or time and money spent on the task are wasted.
Among the documents, you must obtain and submit for record sealing are the following:
- Criminal history from the Nevada Criminal History Central Repository.
- Current, verified copy of your criminal history (SCOPE printout) to seal records. SCOPE is the Shared Computer Operations for Protection and Enforcement system, the online records system used by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in Clark County.
- Any additional records that may exist on microfiche or another physical form.
- Signed petition for the order to seal your records.
- Signed order from a judge ordering records sealed.
- A signed affidavit attesting to the authenticity of the documents above.
In Las Vegas (Clark County), the district attorney’s (DA) office has specific requirements for original documents and copies to be submitted, the wording of your petition and what information it must contain, and even the order in which documents should be presented when submitted.
Our record-sealing attorneys will ensure these strict guidelines are met when submitting your paperwork.
The DA approves or denies petitions for records to be sealed. Once the DA supports the order, our attorneys will submit it to the Clerk of Court for a judge to sign.
If the district attorney’s office denies a petition, an explanation will accompany your returned paperwork. Then, you can either correct/change the paperwork as advised and resubmit to the district attorney’s office or petition the court for a hearing before a judge. If you obtain a hearing, you must notify the DA’s office.
A person whose petition is denied must wait two years to petition for a rehearing. However, the law also states: “No person may petition for more than two rehearings.” That’s why it’s crucial to have a knowledgeable attorney handling your case.
Although the State of Nevada’s intention to allow citizens to have their criminal records sealed is progressive, the actual process is complex, as most legal matters are. A single step or requirement that is misunderstood or missed can derail an application.
For example, for each crime on your record, your record sealing petition must list:
- Date of Arrest
- Arresting Agency, such as Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol, School
- Police, Nevada Gaming Authority, State Contractor’s Board, etc.
- Case Number
- Charge
- Final Outcome/Result/Disposition
This information will come from your SCOPE report. But deciphering a SCOPE printout can be complicated because the SCOPE system uses abbreviations in its data fields.
In addition, although Nevada law allows for sealing criminal records, it is not an absolute right. Your petition is subject to a judge’s discretion once it gets beyond the district attorney’s office. Don’t risk a simple mistake that prolongs or upends the process.
The skilled and experienced Las Vegas record-sealing lawyers at Adras & Altig will pursue every procedural avenue available through Nevada laws on your behalf.