To expunge a drug charge from your record in Greenville, SC, you should determine your eligibility for expungement, collect the required paperwork, file your application, and wait for the judge’s decision. Unfortunately, not all drug charges are eligible for expungement. You can learn more about the process and whether your drug charge can be expunged by speaking to our Greenville, SC, drug crime defense lawyers.
At Eppes & Plumblee, we can determine what’s possible for your specific situation and explore all available options to help you get your drug charge off your record for good.
What Happens If My Drug Charge is Expunged?
Expungement means that your drug charge is erased from public view. Once approved, the court orders law enforcement and state databases to destroy records of your offense, including arrest files and case details. That charge will not show up on background checks for most jobs, housing, or loans. However, expungement doesn’t happen automatically, even when you’re eligible. It takes time, precision, and the correct legal strategy.
Is My Drug Charge Eligible for Expungement?
South Carolina law carves out specific paths for expunging drug charges. Here’s how it generally works:
- If your charge was dismissed or you were found not guilty, you could have it expunged immediately without a waiting period and additional steps.
- When you complete Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), you’re eligible for expungement as soon as you finish, including any community service or drug education requirements.
- If you were convicted of a first offense simple possession, you can apply for expungement three years after the conviction date, provided you haven’t picked up any new charges since.
- You can apply for expungement after three years if you received a conditional discharge and met the court’s terms.
On the other hand, felony drug convictions like distribution, trafficking, or repeat possession charges cannot be expunged. Those stay on your record under current state law. However, if you’re not sure where your case stands, a Greenville, SC, drug crime attorney can review your case and let you know what your options are.
How Our Greenville, SC, Drug Crime Defense Lawyer Can Help You
The expungement process in SC requires gathering court records, ensuring your drug charge is expungable, and coordinating with the solicitor’s office, the arresting agency, SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division), and the court clerk. If you think that’s complicated, that’s because it’s designed to be. When a Greenville, SC, drug crime attorney takes on your case, they will:
- Review the exact way your case ended because that determines your eligibility according to the statute.
- Collect the necessary court records and file petitions the right way and in the correct order.
- Keep tabs on every agency involved, so your application doesn’t get lost in a backlog.
Most importantly, if your drug charge isn’t eligible, they’ll tell you that upfront so you don’t waste your time or money, and explore other options, such as the possibility of a pardon.
Talk to Our Dedicated Legal Team Today
If your drug charge is holding you back, discuss your case with our Greenville, SC, defense lawyers. Schedule your confidential case review by calling Eppes & Plumblee, P.A. at 864-581-3450 or contact us online. You don’t need to live with the long-term fallout of a single charge, especially when the law gives you a way out.