Expunging Criminal Records and Federal Firearm Rights (Self-Study)

Course Description

This presentation will focus on the collateral consequences of having a criminal record, with special focus on two main areas: criminal records and background checks, and the right to possess firearms. Information presented will be on a national scope rather than state-specific.

Principles

• Background Checks
• Clearing Criminal History
• Federal Firearms Prohibitions
• Restoration of Federal Firearms Rights

Syllabus

Collateral Consequences- Why these topics are relevant 

1. Criminal records in the digital age
2. Firearms restrictions

Background Checks and Data Harvesting 

1. How and when background checks are conducted
2. Federal regulations on background checks
3. Remedies for inaccurate or incomplete information

Efforts to Restore a Clean Criminal History 

1. Ban the Box
2. Expungement

1. Overview of states
2. Federal cases
3. Practice tips

1. Certificates of rehabilitation and good conduct
2. Employer incentives and immunity laws
3. Clean up of records after expungement
4. Mugshots.com
5. Media coverage

Federal Firearms Prohibitions 

1. Domestic assaults
2. Felonies
3. Mental health

Restoration of Federal Firearms Rights 

1. 1. Expungement
   2. Pardon
   3. State restoration of rights
   4. The Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) process

Instructors

Kelly J. Keegan, Esq.