Expunging Rhode Island Shoplifting Charges

If you were charged with a criminal shoplifting offense in the State of Rhode Island, you may have the ability to have the charge removed from your criminal record (BCI - your official criminal record).  To determine when your Rhode Island Shoplifting Charge might be eligible for expungement, you need to know the disposition (or outcome) of your case.  The quickest and easiest way to determine the outcome of your case is to utilize the Rhode Island Court Connect System and look your case up.  For step-by-step instructions detailing how to look up your case information, review our recent blog post titled "Where Can I Find Information on my Criminal Case?".  There are some typical outcomes on Rhode Island Shoplifting Charges.  Those include (1) dismissal of all charges, (2) a one year Filing, and (3) a probationary sentence.  Your ability to expunge a Rhode Island Shoplifting charge is very  different depending on the outcome of the case and we review each outcome below.

When Can I Expunge A Dismissed Misdemeanor Rhode Island Shoplifting Charge?

If a Rhode Island Shoplifting case has been dismissed by the prosecution or you are found not guilty after trial, the shoplifting charge may be eligible for expungement immediately.  As long as you have not been convicted of any felony charge, your dismissed Rhode Island Shoplifting charge is legally eligible for immediate expungement.  If your Rhode Island Shoplifting charge was dismissed, contact Attorney Matthew Marin immediately to begin the process of expunging your shoplifting case.

When Can I Expunge A Rhode Island Shoplifting Filing?

If you were charged with shoplifting and the case was Filed (meaning you had to stay out of trouble for one year, but no probation), you can seek to have the case removed once the one year filing period expires.  Many times, the expungement of a filing is described as "automatic", which is technically true.  However, if you rely on the "automatic" expungement then there is no guarantee that the case records will be destroyed by the arresting police department or that the charged will be removed from your BCI.  If your Rhode Island Shoplifting case was Filed, contact Attorney Matthew Marin so that we can describe the assistance we can provide having this charge removed from your record.

When Can I Expunge A Case of Rhode Island Shoplifting Probation?

If you were sentenced to probation on a Rhode Island Shoplifting case, the general rule is that you must wait a minimum of five (5) years prior to moving to expunge your conviction.  If the only item on your criminal record is a Rhode Island Shoplifting probation, you will be eligible to have the case expunged from your record after waiting five (5) years.  However, if you have other "convictions" or records of probation on your criminal record you will not be legally eligible to have your record expunged.  If your Motion to Expunge a shoplifting probation in Rhode Island is granted, you will owe a $100.00 expungement fee to the court.

Experienced Rhode Island Expungement Lawyer Matthew Marin

Attorney Matthew Marin has assisted hundreds of individuals moving to expunge shoplifting charges in Rhode Island.  We appear on behalf of clients for motions to expunge in all District and Superior Courts throughout Rhode Island.  Most of the Motion to Expunge misdemeanor shoplifting charges will be heard in the Sixth Division District Court (Providence and Bristol Counties), the Third Division District Court (Kent County), the Fourth Division District Court (Washington County), and the Second Division District Court (Newport County).  Contact us today for a no obligation Rhode Island Shoplifting Charge expungement consultation.  We are available 24/7 at 401-228-8271.