Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Washington

Question regarding descrimination due to past felony

I just applied for an apartment and was turned down due to the fact that, ten years ago, I was convicted of a drug charge. This was an intent to sell...if that matters. Is it legal for an apartment to deny an application due to this? And I also thought felonies were not visible to the general public 7 or more years after conviction unless they were either murder or sex cases. This must not be the case, huh? And is the only way to make this totally go away is to go for an expungment?

Thanx...Discouraged Ex-Criminal


Asked on 8/09/02, 11:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Question regarding descrimination due to past felony

Felony convictions remain a matter of public record forever. The disabilities attending a conviction may be removed by gubernatorial or presidential pardon, but the fact of the conviction remains. It is not presently illegal for a landlord to refuse to rent because of a prior criminal conviction, particularly one having to do with illegal drugs.

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Answered on 8/10/02, 3:07 am


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