Endicott, NY Criminal Defense Law Firms & Lawyers

When you say she was in her teens - was she under 17? If so, she was a juvenile and her record should not available for most background checks. It would only be available to law enforcement. If she was 17, 18, or 19 then she was an adult and the records are accessible to anyone who searches. These answers apply to an adult charge / conviction / probation: She only qualifies for an expunction if the case was dismissed or she was found not guilty after a trial. To expunge the record in such an instance, she would have to file a lawsuit in civil district court. There are filing fees, services and lawyer fees involved. If she received a deferred adjudication and successfully completed it for most offenses - if they are a most misdemeanors then she would be able to petition the court in which the case was prosecuted to seal the record upon completion of the deferred. (Some charges require a 2 year waiting period.) If the case was a felony, then the wait for an eligible felony would be 5 years. There is a filing fee involved with a petition for nondisclosure. (If the record was sealed, it would not be available to the general public in a background search. However, it would be available to law enforcement and licensing agencies.)

Yes, you can be charged with murder. If this is the situation you need to contact a good criminal defense attorney right away - even if you have bot yet been charged! And by all means (if it's not too late already) do not make a statement to the police without your attorney present.