Q: How can a past felony be reduced to a misdemeanor status in Florida through legal means?
How can a past felony be reduced to a misdemeanor status in Florida through legal means?
In 2018, I was charged with possessing a fake identification in the state of Florida, which resulted in a felony charge. However, I received adjudication withheld status after successfully completing probation. Despite this incident, I was able to obtain a Florida Registered Nurse License without any complications or restitutions. Nevertheless, due to recent changes in the field of medicine, I now aspire to obtain a compact state license. Unfortunately, my current disposition makes this unattainable under existing laws. As such, I require the assistance of a lawyer to help me navigate this legal challenge
A:
Hello-
If you were not convicted of the charge, and have no other criminal and/or criminal traffic convictions, you may be eligible to have that case sealed. It cannot be reduced to a misdemeanor but it can be sealed. However, note that medical boards and similar agencies still require disclosure.
Jonathan Blecher agrees with this answer
A: Sealing your record won't help you when applying for certification in the "Compact". The case will come up in a level II background check AND you must disclose the arrest, regardless of the withhold or a sealing. The time limit has passed to vacate the plea. However, a lawyer would need to review the plea colloquy to determine if there are constitutional grounds to do so.
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