What Is A Criminal Record
Many people are confused by what actual constitutes a criminal record and what is just a misnomer that will not have any bearing on your record. One of the most common mistakes that people assume is that drunk driving will appear on a criminal record but since it is a highway act offense and not a criminal one it will not.
Another common mistake that people make is that they assume they will only have a criminal record if they are convicted of an offense. If the police decide that you are person of interest in a criminal crime and you have been interviewed as a result of that suspected involvement than you will have a criminal record stating your date of birth and name on file with the police for a period of five years, however this type of file will not come up in criminal record searches conducted by employers.
The other type of criminal record that exists is where you have actually been charged with a crime and taken into custody. This type of record will be on file and will appear in criminal record searches regardless of if you were found innocent or even had the charges withdrawn. Once you have a criminal record on file you will need to apply to have the record removed and a lawyer can help assist you in ensuring that the paperwork is filled out properly and that your rights are being protected. You can find a local lawyer to help you with your criminal record in our free legal database located here.
