C.J. Rice of Philadelphia was convicted in 2011 for participating in a shooting he has always denied being part of. Rice's conviction caused him to spend more than a dozen years behind bars.  

Rice's incarceration ended last March. That's when Philadelphia Judge James Eisenhower granted District Attorney Larry Krasner's motion to drop all charges against Rice. 

Rice still has a criminal record. He and his attorneys can now work towards expunging the attempted murder charges that led to his incarceration. 

Stories like this highlight an important point: Avoiding prison or getting out of prison won't always address all the ways criminal charges can affect your life. 

Record expungement and sealing is one service the Criminal Defense Team at the LLF Law Firm offers our clients. If you wish to expunge or seal your record in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. Learn more by calling the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contacting us online today. 

Former Inmate Calls Release a ‘Wrong Righted' 

Rice was 17 when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sentenced him to 30 to 60 years in prison. The Commonwealth sentenced Rice despite the fact that his pediatrician, Dr. Theodore S. Tapper, testified he did not believe Rice was physically capable of committing the crime he would be convicted of. 

Witnesses stated the shooters ran from the crime scene. At the time of the shooting, Rice was recovering from an injury. He might not have been able to run away after committing an act of violence. 

Rice enlisted Dr. Tapper's help in 2016 while behind bars. He asked Dr. Tapper to help him obtain medical evidence that had not been introduced in his original trial. Over the years, Rice also worked with attorneys who filed a habeas petition to secure his release from prison. 

Rice says he's “glad to see this wrong righted.” However, he doesn't characterize his experience as a mistake. Rice points out he worked for over a decade to finally convince the Commonwealth to address this matter. 

How Expungement and Record Sealing Help People Move On 

Rice and his attorneys plan to seek expungement of attempted murder charges from his record so he can transition to a healthy life outside of prison. 

A criminal record can affect everything from someone's employment opportunities to their ability to volunteer or adopt. Expungement involves removing a record entirely. Sealing a record involves preventing anyone except certain qualified or authorized parties (like law enforcement agencies) from accessing it. 

Many factors can influence whether it's possible to seal or expunge a criminal record in Pennsylvania. If a criminal record is interfering with your life, strongly consider speaking with a legal professional. 

Learn More About Record Sealing and Expungement in Pennsylvania 

The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team is available to review your case and answer your questions about record expungement and sealing. If you have a valid case, our knowledgeable attorneys will work hard to prevent a criminal record from following you throughout life. Get started today by calling us at 888-535-3686 or contacting us online.