The Consequences of a False Criminal Record in a Background Check
A criminal record can have a massive impact on the way you live your life. It may prevent you from getting a job or renting an apartment, it can prevent you from getting into college or applying for certain jobs, and it can even make it harder to get out of jail. A false conviction will not only affect your life but also your reputation as well.
Employment consequences of a criminal record
A criminal record can have serious consequences on your ability to find employment. Employers are allowed to conduct criminal background checks and may use them as part of their hiring process. When a background check shows false criminal record, it can result in lost job opportunities or even prevent you from getting hired altogether.
The most common reason that employers conduct these types of screenings is that they want to ensure that their business is safe from criminals who might pose a threat to their employees or customers. When someone applies for work at your company, there’s no way for them to know whether or not that person has been convicted of any crimes before; this makes it especially important for businesses (and other organizations) who deal with vulnerable populations like children or elderly people–or other situation where there might be an increased risk–to perform thorough background checks on potential employees before hiring them.
Conviction of a crime
A conviction of a crime is a serious matter. Convictions can lead to jail time, fines, loss of employment and housing. If you have been convicted of a crime and it appears on your background check, you may be denied the opportunity for employment or housing.
There are several possible reasons why someone could have their record expunged:
- The person was innocent
- The charges were dismissed or dismissed with prejudice (meaning they cannot be refiled)
- There was no conviction because the case was dismissed before trial
Expungement of criminal record
You can expunge a criminal record in some states. The expungement process removes all public records about your arrest, conviction, and sentence from the state repository of criminal history information. Expungement is not automatic; it requires you to file paperwork with the court that handled your case and requests that they seal their records related to it. For this process to work properly, certain rules must be followed:
- You must have been acquitted or had charges dropped against you within five years of being convicted (or ten years if it was a felony).
- Your conduct since then has been exemplary–no new arrests or convictions since then.* You’ve completed any probation requirements.* You’ve paid all fines associated with the case.* You aren’t currently incarcerated due to another charge.* You haven’t had another petition filed on behalf of someone else asking for an expungement based upon “collateral consequences” (see below).
Reinstatement of your driving privileges
If you were convicted of a DUI, your license will be revoked. You can get a hearing with the state’s Department of motor vehicles (DMV) to reinstate your driving privileges. At this hearing, the DMV will consider:
- Whether or not you are considered fit to drive based on the nature of the crime and other factors such as age and criminal record history;
- Whether there are grounds for suspension or revocation under state law;
- The length of time since your last conviction;
If they decide that it is safe for you to resume driving again, they may impose conditions on how long before you can apply again (for example six months). You may also have to pay fines and complete courses before getting back behind the wheel again!
A false conviction could lead to a lifetime of consequences.
Convictions for crimes like theft, fraud, and drug possession can have serious repercussions for your future employment prospects. If you are convicted of a crime in the past, it may be difficult for you to secure jobs or loans with banks. In addition, some employers will require applicants who do not have criminal records to fill out background checks as part of the hiring process–this means that if there is anything on your record that would prevent you from getting hired by another company later down the road (like being arrested), this information will come up during those screenings and could cost you opportunities at other places too!
A false conviction can lead to a lifetime of consequences. A criminal record can affect your life in many ways from employment issues to driving privileges and even housing. If you or someone you know has been falsely convicted of a crime, contact us immediately for help!