A Fresh Start in Ramsey County: How We Won an Expungement of an OFP Violation
As a criminal defense attorney, some of the most rewarding moments in my work come not in the courtroom battles at trial, but in the opportunities to help clients rebuild their lives once those battles are over. Yesterday, I had the privilege of securing an expungement for a client in Ramsey County who had a violation of an Order for Protection (OFP) on his record. (Minn. Stat. § 518.01)
While OFP-related offenses are taken seriously in Minnesota—and rightfully so—our laws also recognize that people grow, circumstances change, and sometimes a single chapter shouldn't define an entire story.
This is the story of how we made that case.
The Weight of an OFP Violation Conviction on a Person’s Life
An OFP violation on a criminal record can feel like a heavy anchor. Even old offenses can show up in background checks for jobs, housing, education, and professional licenses. Every time my client was applying for new jobs, he was getting denied. His mistake from years ago was a barrier to future success.
Why Expungement Was Possible
Minnesota’s expungement laws allow individuals to seal certain criminal records based on the statute of conviction, the level of the offense, and how much time has remained since you’ve been discharged from probation and remained crime free.
My client was doing everything he needed to do after he was convicted. He was working hard, taking care of his family, and staying out of trouble. We knew we had a compelling narrative—but good facts alone are not enough. Successful expungements require a strong legal argument tied directly to the statutory factors under Minn. Stat. § 609A.03.
The Hearing in Ramsey County
It’s always a challenge when asking for an expungement of a crime that is “enhancable”. What enhancable means is that if you are convicted of that same crime again in the future, the penalties for that crime became more serious. There can be resistance to expunging a record because the government wants to keep the record out there to determine enhancablilty. I have arguments against this claim by the government, but that would take another blog post to fully explain.
What I am driving at is that an OPF violation is an enahancable offense. This was a more difficult than typical argument to make. But after I made my argument I heard the words I was hoping for.
“Petition for expungement granted.”
Conclusion
If you want to petition the Court for an order of expungement, you want an attorney who is knowledgeable, experienced, and well versed in the law on expungements. There are many attorneys in the state of Minnesota who offer expungement services, but don’t practice in the area enough to know the intricacies of the law and how to utilize that to their client’s advantage. Contact Jack Rice Defense today for a free consultation. 651-447-7650
Peter Lindstrom
Peter is the head of the expungement departments at Jack Rice Defense. He has won expungements for many challenging case types including felonies, DWI, and domestic violence cases. Peter is particularly known for his intelligence, creativity, and legal acumen. If you want your record cleared, you want Peter and the team at Jack Rice Defense in your corner.
