By Adrian Pimentel
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October 28, 2021
Criminal convictions often have long-lasting consequences that affect multiple facets of your life. You may find yourself unable to secure a job or housing due to prior convictions that remain on your record. In 2019, a united group of Washington State lawmakers worked to instate the New Hope Act . This legislation was designed to assist people with criminal records as they reintegrate into their communities. The New Hope Act empowers people to rewrite their future. Under this legislation, there is an expanded list of the type of misdemeanor convictions that can be vacated as well as an allowance for multiple misdemeanors to be vacated all at once. Certain felony offenses have been included amongst convictions that can be vacated. The Act eliminates the “once in a lifetime” limitation for vacating misdemeanor crimes. Class C felonies require a waiting period of five years, while Class B require ten. However, under the New Hope Act, applicants are now able to apply for a vacated sentence prior to paying off fees and fines. When a conviction is vacated, it is removed from your criminal history and you are legally allowed to say that you have never been convicted of a crime. Law enforcement will be prohibited from informing others about your conviction. You may be eligible to vacate your conviction if you have not violated a court order in the past five years, have completed your sentence, have not been convicted of a new crime in three years, and do not have any criminal charges pending against you. Petitioning to vacate your convictions is an arduous task. Pimentel & Associates is ready to partner with you as you rewrite your future. For more information, give us a call or fill out a free case evaluation to see if you qualify to have your convictions vacated.