Can a federal felony charge be expunged?
Full Question:
Answer:
The following are Mississippi statutes:
§ 9-23-23. Successful completion of drug court may result in expunction
of criminal record.
If the participant completes all requirements imposed upon him by the
drug court, including the payment of fines and fees assessed, the charge
and prosecution shall be dismissed. If the defendant or participant was
sentenced at the time of entry of plea of guilty, the successful
completion of the drug court order and other requirements of probation or
suspension of sentence will result in the record of the criminal
conviction or adjudication being expunged. However, no expunction of any
implied consent violation shall be allowed.
§ 41-29-150. Participation in drug rehabilitation programs; probation.
(a) Any person convicted under Section 41-29-139 may be required, in
the discretion of the court, as a part of the sentence otherwise
imposed, or in lieu of imprisonment in cases of probation or suspension
of sentence, to attend a course of instruction conducted by the bureau,
the state board of health, or any similar agency, on the effects,
medically, psychologically and socially, of the misuse of controlled
substances. Said course may be conducted at any correctional
institution, detention center or hospital, or at any center or treatment
facility established for the purpose of education and rehabilitation of
those persons committed because of abuse of controlled substances.
(b) Any person convicted under Section 41-29-139, who is found to be
dependent upon or addicted to any controlled substance shall be
required, as a part of the sentence otherwise imposed, or in lieu of
imprisonment in cases of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, to
receive medical treatment for such dependency or addiction. The regimen
of medical treatment may include confinement in a medical facility of any
correctional institution, detention center or hospital, or at any center
or facility established for treatment of those persons committed because
of a dependence or addiction to controlled substances.
(c) Those persons previously convicted of a felony under Section
41-29-139 and who are now confined at the Mississippi State Hospital at
Whitfield, Mississippi, or at the East Mississippi State Hospital at
Meridian, Mississippi, for the term of their sentence shall remain under
the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and shall
be required to abide by all reasonable rules and regulations promulgated
by the director and staff of said institutions and of the department of
corrections. Any persons so confined who shall refuse to abide by said
rules or who attempt an escape or who shall escape shall be transferred
to the state penitentiary or to a county jail, where appropriate, to
serve the remainder of the term of imprisonment; this provision shall not
preclude prosecution and conviction for escape from said institutions.
(d)
(1) If any person who has not previously been convicted of violating
Section 41-29-139, or the laws of the United States or of another state
relating to narcotic drugs, stimulant or depressant substances, other
controlled substances or marihuana is found to be guilty of a violation
of subsection (c) or (d) of Section 41-29-139, after trial or upon a plea
of guilty, the court may, without entering a judgment of guilty and with
the consent of such person, defer further proceedings and place him on
probation upon such reasonable conditions as it may require and for such
period, not to exceed three (3) years, as the court may prescribe. Upon
violation of a condition of the probation, the court may enter an
adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided. The court may,
in its discretion, dismiss the proceedings against such person and
discharge him from probation before the expiration of the maximum period
prescribed for such person's probation. If during the period of his
probation such person does not violate any of the conditions of the
probation, then upon expiration of such period the court shall discharge
such person and dismiss the proceedings against him. Discharge and
dismissal under this subsection shall be without court adjudication of
guilt, but a nonpublic record thereof shall be retained by the bureau
solely for the purpose of use by the courts in determining whether or
not, in subsequent proceedings, such person qualifies under this
subsection. Such discharge or dismissal shall not be deemed a conviction
for purposes of disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law upon
conviction of a crime, including the penalties prescribed under this
article for second or subsequent conviction, or for any other purpose.
Discharge and dismissal under this subsection may occur only once with
respect to any person; and
(2) Upon the dismissal of such person and discharge of proceedings
against him under paragraph (1) of this subsection, or with respect to a
person who has been convicted and adjudged guilty of an offense under
subsection (c) or (d) of Section 41-29-139, or for possession of
narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marihuana, other
controlled substances or paraphernalia under prior laws of this state,
such person, if he had not reached his twenty-sixth birthday at the time
of the offense, may apply to the court for an order to expunge from all
official records, other than the nonpublic records to be retained by the
bureau under paragraph (1) of this subsection, all recordation relating
to his arrest, indictment, trial, finding of guilty, and dismissal and
discharge pursuant to this section. If the court determines, after
hearing, that such person was dismissed and the proceedings against him
discharged and that he had not reached his twenty-sixth birthday at the
time of the offense, or that such person had satisfactorily served his
sentence or period of probation and parole, and that he had not reached
his twenty-sixth birthday at the time of the offense, it shall enter such
order. The effect of such order shall be to restore such person, in the
contemplation of the law, to the status he occupied before such arrest or
indictment. No person as to whom such order has been entered shall be
held thereafter under any provision of any law to be guilty of perjury or
otherwise giving a false statement by reason of his failures to recite or
acknowledge such arrest, or indictment or trial in response to any
inquiry made of him for any purpose.
(e) Every person who has been or may hereafter be convicted of a felony
offense under Section 41-29-139 and sentenced under Section 41-29-150(c)
shall be under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of
Corrections.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person confined under the provisions
of subsection (b) or (c) of this section to escape or attempt to escape
from said institution, and upon conviction said person shall be guilty of
a felony and shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed two (2) years.
(g) It is the intent and purpose of the legislature to promote the
rehabilitation of persons convicted of offenses under the Uniform
Controlled Substances Law.
§ 43-21-159. Transfer of cases from other courts.
(1) When a person appears before a court other than the youth court,
and it is determined that the person is a child under jurisdiction of the
youth court, such court shall, unless the jurisdiction of the offense has
been transferred to such court as provided in this chapter, or unless the
child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court
to the circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted, immediately
dismiss the proceeding without prejudice and forward all documents
pertaining to the cause to the youth court; and all entries in permanent
records shall be expunged. The youth court shall have the power to order
and supervise the expunction or the destruction of such records in
accordance with Section 43-21-265. Upon petition therefor, the youth
court shall expunge the record of any case within its jurisdiction in
which an arrest was made, the person arrested was released and the case
was dismissed or the charges were dropped or there was no disposition of
such case. In cases where the child is charged with a hunting or fishing
violation or a traffic violation whether it be any state or federal law,
a violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law, or municipal
ordinance or county resolution or where the child is charged with a
violation of Section 67-3-70, the appropriate criminal court shall
proceed to dispose of the same in the same manner as for other adult
offenders and it shall not be necessary to transfer the case to the youth
court of the county. Unless the cause has been transferred, or unless the
child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court
to the circuit court for trial as an adult, except for violations under
the Implied Consent Law, and was convicted, the youth court shall have
power on its own motion to remove jurisdiction from any criminal court of
any offense including a hunting or fishing violation, a traffic
violation, or a violation of Section 67-3-70, committed by a child in a
matter under the jurisdiction of the youth court and proceed therewith in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) After conviction and sentence of any child by any other court
having original jurisdiction on a misdemeanor charge, and within the time
allowed for an appeal of such conviction and sentence, the youth court of
the county shall have the full power to stay the execution of the
sentence and to release the child on good behavior or on other order as
the youth court may see fit to make unless the child has previously been
the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the circuit court for
trial as an adult and was convicted. When a child is convicted of a
misdemeanor and is committed to, incarcerated in or imprisoned in a jail
or other place of detention by a criminal court having proper
jurisdiction of such charge, such court shall notify the youth court
judge or the judge's designee of the conviction and sentence prior to the
commencement of such incarceration. The youth court shall have the power
to order and supervise the destruction of any records involving children
maintained by the criminal court in accordance with Section 43-21-265.
However, the youth court shall have the power to set aside a judgment of
any other court rendered in any matter over which the youth court has
exclusive original jurisdiction, to expunge or destroy the records
thereof in accordance with Section 43-21-265, and to order a refund of
fines and costs.
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) shall apply to a youth who has a
pending charge or a conviction for any crime over which circuit court has
original jurisdiction.
(4) In any case wherein the defendant is a child as defined in this
chapter and of which the circuit court has original jurisdiction, the
circuit judge, upon a finding that it would be in the best interest of
such child and in the interest of justice, may at any stage of the
proceedings prior to the attachment of jeopardy transfer such proceedings
to the youth court for further proceedings unless the child has
previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the
circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted or has previously
been convicted of a crime which was in original circuit court
jurisdiction, and the youth court shall, upon acquiring jurisdiction,
proceed as provided in this chapter for the adjudication and disposition
of delinquent child proceeding proceedings. If the case is not
transferred to the youth court and the youth is convicted of a crime by
any circuit court, the trial judge shall sentence the youth as though
such youth was an adult. The circuit court shall not have the authority
to commit such child to the custody of the Department of Youth Services
for placement in a state-supported training school.
(5) In no event shall a court sentence an offender over the age of
eighteen (18) to the custody of the Division of Youth Services for
placement in a state-supported training school.
(6) When a child's driver's license is suspended by the youth court for
any reason, the clerk of the youth court shall report the suspension,
without a court order under Section 43-21-261, to the Commissioner of
Public Safety in the same manner as such suspensions are reported in
cases involving adults.
(7) No offense involving the use or possession of a firearm by a child
who has reached his fifteenth birthday and which, if committed by an
adult would be a felony, shall be transferred to the youth court.
§ 43-21-265. Destruction of records.
The youth court, in its discretion, may order the destruction of any
records involving children except medical or mental health examinations
as defined in section 43-21-253. This order shall be directed to all
persons maintaining the records, shall order their physical destruction by
an appropriate means specified by the youth court and shall require the
persons to file with the youth court a written report of compliance with
the order. No records, however, may be destroyed without the approval of
the director of the department of archives and history.
§ 45-33-55. Exemptions for expunction.
Except for juvenile criminal history information that has been sealed
by order of the court, this chapter exempts sex offenses from laws of
this state or court orders authorizing the destroying, expunging,
purging or sealing of criminal history records to the extent such
information is authorized for dissemination under this chapter.
§ 99-15-26. Dismissal of action upon successful completion of certain
court-imposed conditions.
(1) In all criminal cases, felony and misdemeanor, other than crimes
against the person, the circuit or county court shall be empowered, upon
the entry of a plea of guilty by a criminal defendant, to withhold
acceptance of the plea and sentence thereon pending successful completion
of such conditions as may be imposed by the court pursuant to subsection
(2) of this section. In all misdemeanor criminal cases, other than crimes
against the person, the justice or municipal court shall be empowered,
upon the entry of a plea of guilty by a criminal defendant, to withhold
acceptance of the plea and sentence thereon pending successful completion
of such conditions as may be imposed by the court pursuant to subsection
(2) of this section. No person having previously qualified under the
provisions of this section or having ever been convicted of a felony shall
be eligible to qualify for release in accordance with this section. A
person shall not be eligible to qualify for release in accordance with
this section if such person has been charged (a) with an offense
pertaining to the sale, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribution or
dispensing of a controlled substance, or the possession with intent to
sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense a controlled
substance, as provided in Section 41-29-139(a)(1), except for a charge
under said provision when the controlled substance invoked is one (1)
ounce or less of marijuana; (b) with an offense pertaining to the
possession of one (1) kilogram or more of marijuana as provided in Section
41-29-139(c)(2)(F) and (G); or (c) with an offense under the Mississippi
Implied Consent Law.
(2)
(a) Conditions which the circuit, county, justice or municipal court
may impose under subsection (1) of this section shall consist of:
(i) Reasonable restitution to the victim of the crime.
(ii) Performance of not more than nine hundred sixty (960) hours of
public service work approved by the court.
(iii) Payment of a fine not to exceed the statutory limit.
(iv) Successful completion of drug, alcohol, psychological or
psychiatric treatment or any combination thereof if the court deems such
treatment necessary.
(v) The circuit or county court, in its discretion, may require the
defendant to remain in the program subject to good behavior for a period
of time not to exceed five (5) years. The justice or municipal court, in
its discretion, may require the defendant to remain in the program
subject to good behavior for a period of time not to exceed two (2)
years.
(b) Conditions which the circuit or county court may impose under
subsection (1) of this section also include successful completion of a
regimented inmate discipline program.
(3) When the court has imposed upon the defendant the conditions set
out in this section, the court shall release the bail bond, if any.
(4) Upon successful completion of the court-imposed conditions
permitted by subsection (2) of this section, the court shall direct that
the cause be dismissed and the case be closed.
(5) Upon petition therefor, the court shall expunge the record of any
case in which an arrest was made, the person arrested was released and
the case was dismissed or the charges were dropped or there was no
disposition of such case.
(6) This section shall take effect and be in force from and after March
31, 1983.
§ 99-15-57. Relief for certain persons who pled guilty within six months
prior to the effective date of section 99-15-26.
(1) Any person who pled guilty within six (6) months prior to the
effective date of Section 99-15-26, Mississippi Code of 1972, and who
would have otherwise been eligible for the relief allowed in such
section, may apply to the court in which such person was sentenced for an
order to expunge from all official public records all recordation
relating to his arrest, indictment, trial, finding of guilty and
sentence. If the court determines, after hearing, that such person has
satisfactorily served his sentence or period of probation and parole,
pled guilty within six (6) months prior to the effective date of Section
99-15-26 and would have otherwise been eligible for the relief allowed in
such section, it may enter such order. The effect of such order shall be
to restore such person, in the contemplation of the law, to the status he
occupied before such arrest or indictment. No person as to whom such
order has been entered shall be held thereafter under any provision of
any law to be guilty of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement by
reason of his failures to recite or acknowledge such arrest, or
indictment or trial in response to any inquiry made of him for any
purpose.
(2) Upon petition therefor, the court shall expunge the record of any
case in which an arrest was made, the person arrested was released and
the case was dismissed or the charges were dropped or there was no
disposition of such case.
§ 99-15-59. Expunction of misdemeanor charges.
Any person who is arrested, issued a citation, or held for any
misdemeanor and not formally charged or prosecuted with an offense within
twelve (12) months of arrest, or upon dismissal of the charge, may apply
to the court with jurisdiction over the matter for the charges to be
expunged.
§ 99-19-71. Expunction of misdemeanor conviction of first offender upon
petition.
(1) Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, excluding a
conviction for a traffic violation, and who is a first offender, may
petition the justice, county, circuit or municipal court, as may be
applicable, for an order to expunge any such conviction from all public
records. Upon entering such order, a nonpublic record thereof shall be
retained by the court and by the Mississippi Criminal Information Center
solely for the purpose of determining whether, in subsequent
proceedings, such person is a first offender. The effect of such order
shall be to restore such person, in the contemplation of the law, to the
status he occupied before such arrest. No person as to whom such order
has been entered shall be held thereafter under any provision of law to
be guilty of perjury or to have otherwise given a false statement by
reason of his failure to recite or acknowledge such arrest or conviction
in response to any inquiry made of him for any purpose, except for the
purpose of determining in any subsequent proceedings under this section,
whether such person is a first offender.
(2) Upon petition therefor, a justice, county, circuit or municipal
court shall expunge the record of any case in which an arrest was made,
the person arrested was released and the case was dismissed or the
charges were dropped or there was no disposition of such case.