When you were pulled over by Massachusetts law enforcement, your primary thoughts may have been the immediate results of a drunk driving conviction. Going to jail, paying fines and having an ignition interlock system installed in your car can be inconvenient at best. Since then, you have moved past all that and stayed out of trouble. However, now that you are looking for a job, things are different.
A criminal record can be a serious liability as you hunt for a new job. Fortunately, you may now qualify to have your OUI conviction expunged, Mass.gov explains. If it was a felony conviction, you must wait seven years before you can file a petition to have the record destroyed. A misdemeanor takes only three years. What are the benefits of expungement in your job search?
First of all, the expungement destroys your criminal record. When an employer runs a background check on you, nothing will show up. When your record is expunged in Massachusetts, the national record is treated the same way, and even the FBI must expunge your record, as well.
If you have a record that is expunged, or a record that is sealed, for that matter, you can indicate on a job application that you have no criminal record. However, a hiring manager may know about the law and still want to weed out applicants that have received criminal convictions. According to the law, employers are not allowed to ask you if you have any records that are sealed or expunged.
This information about expungement of OUI records in Massachusetts is provided to give you a broad overview, but it is not intended as legal advice.
