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This article provides a brief overview of what Texas criminal records can be removed by an individual. The focus here is on eligibility; that is, what a person can seal, expunge, or non-disclose from their criminal history.

Criminal history background checks have become a common part of life in the computer age. A background check often will be conducted when you apply for a job, mortgage, or to live in an apartment complex. If you apply for college or graduate school, you may have to disclose your criminal record.

People often ask me whether a criminal conviction falls off their record after seven years. The answer is no. First of all, let’s clarify what a record is. Your criminal history record is a list of your arrests and convictions. When you apply for a job, an employer will usually hire a consumer reporting agency to run your background...

As in all criminal cases, a person charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is presumed innocent. The State has the burden to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  The person charged must be acquitted if the State fails to meet its burden. An effective defense will protect the defendant’s presumption of innocence and prevent the State from meeting its burden.

The most common misconception about deferred adjudication in Texas is that successful completion removes the criminal charge from one’s record. This is not true. Deferred Adjudication does not disappear if the terms are successfully completed. Rather, one must file a petition for Non-Disclosure to seal the record. Some offenses are not even eligible for non-disclosure. Additionally, with a felony charge, one will also have to wait five years from the day one finishes the probation before one can file for non-disclosure.

This section contains articles that will help you understand the criminal appeals process in Texas.

What are your rights when a police officer stops you on the street? Can they stop you to ask questions? When can an officer arrest you? There are three basic types of interactions between officers and citizens: the encounter, the investigatory detention, and the arrest.