No, felony convictions do not automatically "go away" or disappear after 7 years in Texas; they remain on your permanent criminal record for life. While consumer reporting agencies (FCRA) generally restrict reporting non-conviction arrest information older than seven years, this does not apply to actual convictions, which appear indefinitely.
The short answer is that without any further legal action, a felony charge or conviction will remain on your record for the rest of your life. However, Texas law offers two options to have your criminal record changed or sealed.
The seven-year rule has significant exceptions. Felony convictions, sex offender status, and serious criminal offenses can be reported indefinitely, and if the position pays more than $75,000 annually, records will be public beyond the seven-year limit.
Section 46.04 of the Texas Penal Code makes it illegal for someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm. If more than 5 years have passed since completing their prison sentence (including parole or probation), the law allows possessing a firearm at home.
Can I Hunt in the State of Texas If I Have a Felony Conviction? If hunting means having a firearm in your possession, then no, you cannot hunt in Texas if you have a felony conviction.
Yes. Many companies in Texas do hire individuals with felony records, especially those who demonstrate accountability, have gained new skills, or are part of a reentry program like PEP. While some industries have restrictions based on licensing, there are still plenty of pathways to meaningful work.
What Can't Be Expunged? Some violent crimes and crimes of endangerment can never be expunged. A few crimes that cannot be expunged include, Murder, any crime resulting in a sex offender registration, aggravated kidnapping (meaning with a weapon), domestic violence, and human trafficking.
Texas law requires a defendant to wait out the applicable Statute of Limitations for the accused crime before seeking an expunction. The statute of limitations means a two-year wait for misdemeanor crimes, a four-year wait for most felonies, and possibly a ten-year wait for severe felony charges.
Felony friendly jobs in Texas
So, how many times can a felony case be reset? There's no fixed number under Texas law—after 3-4 automatic ones, it's up to the judge based on circumstances. In felony cases, you might see 4-6 resets before pressure builds to proceed, especially on a preferential setting trial docket.
But what most parents don't know is that under Texas Family Code 102.003(a)(9), anyone (whether related to the child or not), other than a foster parent, has standing to file a SAPCR for a child if they: (1) have had actual care, control, and possession of the child for at least 6 months and (2) file a SAPCR for the ...
Generally, you may be charged between $100 and $400 as an initial court filing fee to get your record expunged in Texas court. Aside from the initial fee, there are additional court costs or other unexpected fees that may come up as your expungement petition is processed.
Certain convictions in Texas, particularly felonies, can lead to the loss of civil rights, including: The right to vote (restored after completion of the sentence, including parole) The right to serve on a jury. The right to possess firearms (in many cases, permanently)
A felony conviction stays on your criminal record permanently in California, unless you're able to get it dismissed or sealed through a legal process. This means that any time someone runs a background check on you – such as an employer, landlord, or lender – your felony conviction will show up.
Unlike the popular myth of the “seven-year rule,” conviction records do not automatically expire or disappear from your criminal history after any specific time period. Your criminal record is maintained at multiple levels within the justice system.
Criminal History in a Background Check
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), arrest records cannot be reported after seven years. Criminal convictions, however, can be reported indefinitely under this law. Texas and several other states have laws to limit how long a criminal conviction can be reported.
Texas Law. State law prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from reporting "a record of arrest, indictment, or conviction of a crime" that is more than seven years old. There are exceptions to this general prohibition, including situations where a potential employee's salary will be more than $75,000 a year.
The process of expunging a crime in Texas can be incredibly complex. Typically, you must wait between three and five years following your arrest to petition the court for an expungement. Then, you can begin the process of filing a petition through the court.
Voting rights, jury duty, firearm possession, professional licenses, and housing are just a few examples of the numerous restrictions felons face under Texas law. It is important to be aware of these limitations and take steps to mitigate their impact on your life.
Clean Slate Texas is a coalition of community and advocacy organizations, business and faith leaders, directly impacted people and families dedicated to expanding access to criminal record sealing.
The only states with no salary cap — meaning employers aren't allowed to search back more than 7 years in any candidate's criminal history, no matter how much the job pays — are California and Montana.
Yes, the consequences of a felony conviction can mean it will appear on background checks even after 10 years in Texas. Additionally, felony convictions can still be reported for positions covered by the 7-year rule if an employer conducts internal background checks rather than using a third-party service.