The worst thing about a criminal conviction is that your “debt to society” is seemingly never paid. Even though you might be done with your legal troubles, criminal convictions can prevent you from volunteering, getting certain licenses, renting apartments, and more.
If you are facing a DUI conviction or need help dealing with the fallout of a DUI conviction, you need the assistance of highly skilled, professional, and caring Los Angeles DUI attorneys. Contact a DUI attorney in Los Angeles today for help with your case.
Can I Volunteer with a DUI Conviction?
The problem with a DUI conviction is that it is not a felony conviction, which would normally be devastating for your future prospects but is still enough to convince some people that you are irresponsible. Whether people with certain convictions can still volunteer is almost always up to the people in charge of the volunteer program, so results may vary.
Whether you will be able to volunteer with a DUI will likely depend on what type of volunteer work that you are doing. Most of the time, if your work has something to do with children, you will not be permitted to volunteer. For example, some examples of organizations that will not permit you to volunteer with a DUI conviction are:
The Law
In fact, in California, any work, volunteer or paid, that involves working with children cannot be performed by any person with a criminal record. In fact, if you have a DUI conviction, you might have to request a special exception to the legal ban on former criminals from working with children.
To get an exception, you must convince the Department of Social Services (DSS) that there is “substantial and convincing evidence” that would support the proposition that you are of good moral character. If this sounds highly difficult, it is because it is. Very often, the DSS is likely to deny your exception.
Your Los Angeles DUI lawyer might be able to help you in this situation. It is still unlikely to get an exception, but you only stand to benefit from having a skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney by your side.
Is There Anything that I Can Do to Volunteer Again?
Sometimes, your DUI conviction will permanently affect your life. However, sometimes, simply time passing can allow the collateral consequences of your DUI to be forgiven. For example, sometimes, agencies that you could volunteer for will forget about your DUI conviction after a certain amount of time, maybe 1 to 5 years.
However, other than waiting, there is a way to clear your criminal record called expungement.
What Is Expungement?
Under California law, a DUI never simply drops from your record. If you do not take action, it will remain on your record indefinitely. However, there is something that you can do. After you complete the entire probation term and have completed all of the terms of your DUI probation (such as community service, fine payments, and alcohol school), you can petition the Court to remove the DUI from your criminal record.
If you successfully petition the Court for an expungement, then your criminal history will be clear. This means that you are allowed to answer “no” if you are asked if you have any criminal convictions. However, your driving record will never be cleared.
Luckily, other than the DMV, no one will know whether you have a DUI conviction. Prospective employers or volunteer agencies are not allowed to hold the DUI conviction against you in hiring or promotion considerations, and you are not required to tell anyone about your DUI conviction unless that person has a mandate by law. A skilled Los Angeles DUI lawyer can help you get an expungement in your DUI case.
How Long Does a DUI Expungement Take?
Most of the time, you can complete all of the legal penalties for your DUI conviction within 3 months. However, DUI expungements are not a top priority for courts, so it might sometimes take longer than that. There is also no set time limit by which courts must view your petition, so they often will only look at them when they have time.
However, a skilled DUI attorney in Los Angeles can often assist you in getting the expungement more quickly.
How Can an Attorney Help Me?
In California, if you are attempting to get a DUI expunged, the Court must find that the expungement is “in the interest of justice.” The Court can, at its discretion, deny your petition. In fact, prosecutors often attempt to stop your expungement. This is why you need a skilled DUI lawyer in Los Angeles on your side to convince the Court to expunge your DUI record.
A skilled Los Angeles DUI lawyer will know all of the right things to say to the judge and will be able to skilfully highlight the strengths of your case while downplaying the weaknesses. If you have a DUI conviction on your record and you have finished all of the law-mandated penalties, you should try to have it expunged. A good Los Angeles DUI attorney can assist you with this goal.
Contact a Los Angeles DUI Lawyer
Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes you might not feel drunk at all, only to be pulled over and find out that you were just over the legal limit. While this is unfortunate and can cost you a lot of embarrassment, there are ways that you can still do the things that you are passionate about, like volunteering.
If you have been convicted of a DUI, or if you are currently facing charges for a DUI, you need the assistance of a highly skilled and professional DUI attorney in Los Angeles. You do not need to go it alone; contact a Los Angeles DUI attorney today for a free consultation and case review.
