New Mexico Expungement

09/28/2021

New Mexico Expungement (The Peake Law Firm) has partnered with the UNM Law School for National Expungement Week.

https://www.krqe.com/news/education/unm-law-students-new-hotline-helps-expunge-past-arrests/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – University of New Mexico law students are helping some begin the process of getting a clean slate. Some arrests and convictions can be expunged under a state law, th…

01/10/2021

New year/new you starts with cleaning up your past. If you're not happy with the job your at, the rates that you're getting on loans (or even being able to get them), the judgement of your peers, or the loss of your rights; a simple phone call (505-750-7702) will start you on the path to become the person you were meant to be.

It's not too late to SET YOURSELF APART in the interview for the dream job you always wanted, but were held back from due to something you did a long time ago.

Expungement started in January of 2020, but few people know that expungement is available. For all those we helped in 2020, we've seen promotions, people able to get security clearances to work on base, being able to close a chapter in their lives, and being able to move into better neighborhoods now that they weren't labeled and unfairly judged.

If you're ready to re-invent yourself, now is the perfect time to be ahead of the curve.

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/nm-courts-surprised-by-lack-of-petitions-for-expungement/

"[The courts] prepared for thousands of people asking for a second chance however, that hasn’t happened."

10/02/2020

Go Colorado!!! 2,732 people are being mass-pardoned for ma*****na violations that have kept them from better employment, loans, apartments, etc.

Any type of substance charge will affect a person's life in a drastic way; even if it's dismissed. Just the accusation alone goes into important decision that affect your life. The only way to stop it is to hide that criminal report/accusation. Don't let someone else judge you, based on a single snapshot of your very long life. You're more than that.

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/10/01/colorado-ma*****na-convictions-pardons-governor-polis/

09/19/2020

It's National Expungement Week!!! (September 19-26th). Interesting fact: 77 million Americans have a criminal record (that's 1 out of every 4 Americans).

So this week, we can recognize how much we hold people people based on their criminal record - regardless of how many years ago or the severity of the crime. Drug crimes are especially damaging, and in cases where someone was found guilty of a possessing ma*****na (a substance which many states have legalized or allow for medical purposes) their record will prevent them from getting into institutes of higher education, getting home loans, getting professional certifications/employment, protecting their families with a firearm, or even getting an apartment.

“A criminal record creates more than 48,000 barriers to a person’s life."

https://dopemagazine.com/help-shake-of-the-shackles-for-national-expungement-week/

The troubling origins of cannabis prohibition mirror the everlasting discriminatory effects of the “War on Drugs” today. National Expungement Week (N.E.W.) is “powered by people with color,” with the determination to help those affected by discriminatory laws that put people behind bars for ...

09/18/2020

New Mexico Expungement, LLC will be hosting a no-cost expungement outreach program in celebration of National Expungement Week!!!

Anybody with a record, an arrest, a conviction, a dismissed charge is eligible to contact our office and find out about how expungement can help them. During this week, we will be holding a drawing for free attorney representation (details below).

Additionally, in an effort to lift up our community who has been displaced due to the pandemic, we will be looking for people who have been affected by a criminal accusation/record, and helping them get back on their feet, with pro-bono advice as well as pro-bono representation.

When we help our fellow New Mexicans, we help our community. Jobs stay local, the unemployment rate drops, tax revenue increases to help out local projects, crime drops – it’s all related. As they say - a rising tide lifts all boats.

Whether you know it or not, your criminal record or accusation goes into important decisions such as: employment, qualifying for a loan, the rate that you get for that loan, future interactions with law enforcement, child custody, immigration, insurance, professional certification, and many other decisions that affect your life.

Additionally, the studies on someone who has ever been accused of a crime, show the psychological impacts as well, including emotional distancing, guilt, shame, and in some cases even PTSD. With the availability of our online lookup system (https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/caselookup/app) even an accusation can be viewed by future employers, friends, family members, courts, loan officers, etc.

It’s our belief that judgment only works to hold people back. Expungement is forgiveness through the legal system, which can lead to healing and growth. It’s our hope that to turn the conversation from what you’ve done, to what you can do.

Details:
This week only, you can contact an attorney directly by phone (M-F 8:30-5pm) or by text anytime at 505-750-0755, to see if your accusations/court records qualify for expungement.

To be considered for either the random National Expungement Week drawing or our community program, you only have to share this post on their page to help us spread the word. Submit a screen shot along with your name, date of birth, and contact information to [email protected].

To be considered for the community outreach program, people will be chosen based on the merits, so please tell us a little bit about yourself and how your record/accusation has been affecting you, and why you believe expungement would help.

Everybody who submits their information during National Expungement week will receive a no-cost review of their record, and advised if they qualify for expungement, along with any questions they have about the process.

09/09/2020

Former homeless substance addict uses expungement to turn her life around. She now runs a homeless shelter and uses her past as a way to help others in similar situations. Inspirational story to show what happens when we can rid ourselves of judgement. 🤩

“My experiences are to be used for the greater good.”

This is proof that everyone can change. Everyone deserves the chance to change, and space to change without being judged.

https://wlos.com/community/carolina-moment/everybody-deserves-a-second-chance-shelter-director-uses-past-to-help-others-now

Emily Lowery of Transylvania County received a governor’s pardon from the state of South Carolina in March, clearing her record of a felony charge. Lowery has also submitted an expungement application to the state of North Carolina to erase her criminal record. Caption: WLOS. Lowery sought the...

09/08/2020

If you think your dismissed/not guilty accusation does not affect you, you might want to read these stories. Here are a few stories which highlight the importance of the expungement. It should be noted that ALL THREE PEOPLE WERE NOT CONVICTED ON ANY CHARGES yet their lives were drastically affected nonetheless.

"While non-conviction arrest records should not be lawfully considered by employers in the hiring process, unfortunately many employers do request proof of expungement before being willing to hire people with records. "

James was arrested on drug charges, which were later withdrawn. Despite this, he was unable to get any of the jobs he wanted and was only able to get a job washing dishes, which left him unable to even provide for his family. After expungement, he was able to finally get employment with UPS!!!!

Patricia was charged two times - both times charges were dropped shorty after arrest and neither resulted in any conviction. Although she had 8 years of experience in the culinary arts, she couldn't find employment in her field. That is, until she was able to get her charges expunged.

Gary was found not guilty of his charges. While his employer at the time (a couple of decades ago) didn't terminate him, the company eventually downsized. When he was back in the employment field, he found out that nobody would hire him for a charge that he was found not guilty of, 25 years after the fact! After expungement, he was able to get the job with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, in a job that he finds rewarding and allows him to give back to his community.

"Before the expungement, every time he applied for a job he would relive the anxiety of his criminal case decades after he was found not guilty."

https://clsphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Life-Changing-Impact-of-Expungements-1.pdf

09/08/2020

Why expungement?

Here is a great list of some of the benefits that expungement provides. It's not just convictions that affect people - even having a police report out there, or being seen on the New Mexico Public Lookup site (https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/caselookup/) can have limiting effects on a person's life.

"Expungement allows you to legally deny or fail to acknowledge that you were arrested for the incident which you sealed or expunged."

https://www.papillonfoundation.org/information/expungement-benefits

Use of this site for any purpose other than viewing individual electronic court records, or attempts to download multiple records per transaction, are strictly prohibited. Data use is subject to NMSA 1978, Sec. 14-3-15.1.

09/08/2020

"No one should underestimate how much even the most minor of misdemeanor convictions — including ma*****na or trespassing or any kind of conviction — can affect someone's ability to get a job, to get housing and to function fully in society," says Roberts, who also co-directs the Criminal Justice Clinic at American University in Washington, D.C.

I'm glad that NM has joined the movement of expanding or establishing expungement laws to help people move on. When you look at the effects, it's not just the individual who benefits, but the state as a whole.

"There's a growing body of evidence that it undermines public safety if you don't help people move beyond their criminal records and participate in the workforce."

"One study estimates that the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated people is more than 27 percent — far higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period, including the Great Depression. The rate is even higher for African-Americans who've had run-ins with the law."

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/19/692322738/scrubbing-the-past-to-give-those-with-a-criminal-record-a-second-chance

A criminal conviction can present obstacles to everything from jobs to housing. Since 2017, more than 20 states have expanded or added laws that help people seal or expunge their criminal records.

09/08/2020

This article was published in February, and yet little has changed. 😕 An estimated 600,000 records are available for expungement, yet very few New Mexicans have actually been able to access this service.

Just today, I filed the 12th petition in Sandoval county! How many people are out there that could benefit from a better career, a better interest rate (or just qualifying) for a mortgage, or just a judgement free life?

If you believe that you can benefit from not having an arrest, conviction, or charge on your record, take action. Contact us and get started on your new life.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1419726/few-people-in-state-county-have-sought-expungement.html

Court braces for increase in petitioners seeking to clear their criminal records

05/25/2020