When Am I Required to Disclose my Expunged Conviction?

Everyone makes poor decisions; for some otherwise law-abiding citizens, these decisions result in a misdemeanor conviction. Fortunately there is a way of clearing minor criminal convictions from your record: expungement. A conviction leaves a mark on your record that can deny you job opportunities. Ordinarily, after you have expunged something from your record, you are legally able to say you have never been convicted of a crime.

However, there are a handful of situations where it is necessary to admit your conviction. When a record is expunged, it is not completely destroyed. Although it is illegal to reveal information from an expunged record without a good reason, there are certain circumstances where the court may order the records released. The two most common situations are when someone with an expunged conviction applies to sensitive jobs, and when that person is convicted of another crime.

Anyone applying for a sensitive position, such as law enforcement or education, is subject to a rigorous background check. They are required to reveal any prior convictions, even expunged ones. An expunged conviction is not a guarantee you will be denied a job, but it is relevant for the purposes of selecting candidates for law enforcement. People who apply to be teachers are also subject to the release of their expunged records, as are law students who are applying to the bar.

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If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, expungement can clear your record and allow you to apply for many jobs that were previously unavailable. Rhode Island expungement lawyer James Powderly can help you. To discuss your case, contact us anytime 24/7 at 401-662-9006.