If I am found not guilty of a crime, is there a way to seal my record or have it expunged in Florida?
Answer: Ironically enough, if you’re found not guilty after trial in Florida, the best you’re going to be able to do is seal your record, assuming that you qualify. And that’s kind of ironic because you would think that if you were found not guilty that you might be eligible to expunge your record. The only way you can expunge your record is if a prosecutor were to drop the charges against you completely. Now if you went to trial and you were found not guilty, and assuming you had no prior criminal history, you would eligible to petition the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to seal your record. After ten years you would then be eligible for an expungement. But unfortunately, even if you’re found not guilty in trial, the best you’re going to be able to do—assuming that you qualify—would be to seal your record because the initial charge was not totally dropped by the prosecutor. You were found not guilty, that’s understandable. However, the best you’re going to be able to do is seal your record.
