Brooklyn Record Sealing Lawyer

A conviction from years ago should not control the rest of your life. New York now offers two real paths to clearing your record: petition based sealing under CPL 160.59 and automatic sealing under the Clean Slate Act. Spahija Law prepares and files sealing petitions for clients across Brooklyn and New York City, and verifies that automatic sealing actually happened when it should have. If you are facing this charge in Brooklyn, call 646-453-4001 for a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day.

How Record Sealing Works in New York

New York does not use the word expungement for convictions, but sealing accomplishes what most people mean by it:

CPL §160.59 petition sealing: up to 2 convictions, only 1 of which may be a felony, can be sealed 10 years after sentence or release. Sex offenses, most violent felonies, and Class A felonies are excluded.
The Clean Slate Act: eligible misdemeanors seal automatically 3 years after sentencing and eligible felonies after 8 years, provided you have no new convictions and no pending case.
Marijuana expungement: most past marijuana convictions were expunged automatically under the MRTA.
Sealed does not mean visible: sealed records are hidden from employers, landlords, and the public. Law enforcement and certain licensing agencies retain limited access.

Why It Is Worth Doing

A sealed record changes the answer on job applications, housing applications, and license renewals. Under New York law, most employers cannot see or ask about sealed cases. For clients whose conviction is the only thing standing between them and a promotion, a lease, or a professional license, sealing is the highest return legal work available.

How We Handle Sealing Petitions

Eligibility analysis. We pull your full record and map every disposition against 160.59 and Clean Slate criteria before promising anything.
The petition itself. A 160.59 petition is discretionary. We build the narrative of rehabilitation with employment, education, family, and community evidence.
DA response management. The District Attorney can oppose. As a former Kings County ADA, Amel knows what the office looks for and how to preempt objections.
Clean Slate verification. Automatic sealing has data errors. We verify your record actually shows sealed and correct it when it does not.
Certificate alternatives. Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Good Conduct help clients who are not yet sealing eligible.

What Happens After the Arrest

A 160.59 petition is filed in the court where the conviction occurred, which for Brooklyn cases means 120 Schermerhorn Street or 320 Jay Street. The DA has 45 days to respond, and the court may hold a hearing. Most well prepared petitions resolve within a few months. Clean Slate sealing requires no filing but should be verified.

Related Charges We Defend

Brooklyn cases rarely involve a single charge. Prosecutors stack counts, and this one often travels with desk appearance tickets, theft and larceny and juvenile cases. When a case carries several counts, the defense has to answer all of them at once rather than one at a time. You can see every charge we defend in Brooklyn or read how felony and misdemeanor levels differ.

Why a Former Prosecutor Matters

As a former Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and Staten Island, Amel Spahija evaluated cases exactly like yours from the other side of the table. He knows how the DA's office weighs the evidence, when it reduces charges, and where its cases break. Read about the former prosecutor advantage, then see our recent Brooklyn case results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New York have expungement?

For convictions, New York uses sealing rather than expungement, but the practical effect is similar: the record disappears from public view and most background checks. Marijuana convictions were actually expunged under the MRTA.

Am I eligible to seal my record?

If 10 years have passed since your sentence, you have at most 2 convictions with at most 1 felony, and the offense is not excluded, likely yes under CPL 160.59. Clean Slate may have sealed eligible cases automatically already.

Will employers see a sealed conviction?

Most cannot. Sealed cases do not appear on standard background checks, and New York law bars most employers from asking about them. Law enforcement and gun licensing retain access.

How long does sealing take?

Petition sealing typically runs 2 to 6 months from filing depending on the court and whether the DA opposes. The preparation before filing is what determines whether it succeeds.

Free Consultation

The earlier we get involved, the more options exist. Call 646-453-4001 for a free consultation with a a Brooklyn defense lawyer, or book 30 minutes with Amel directly.