Everyone makes mistakes, especially when they are younger and more exposed to peer pressure. Perhaps you got into a car once with the genuine belief that you were under the limit and later failed a blood alcohol test? Maybe you got in with a bad crowd when you were younger, who led you down the wrong path for a while?
In any case, people can change, and a conviction should not be held against you forever. An expungement essentially allows you to wipe the slate clean. You can live your life freely in the knowledge that your past won’t come back to haunt you. Outlined below are some of the practical benefits of pursuing an expungement of your criminal record.
Your career
In Minnesota, private employers are not allowed to discriminate against people because of their criminal past. What this means is that applicants must be judged on their skills and experience before the interview process commences.
However, at the interview stage or during a conditional job offer, employers are allowed to inquire further about an applicant’s criminal history. If you explain your circumstances in detail, then an employer may sympathize with your situation. But why take this risk at all when you could have your record expunged?
Your family
You and your partner may not be able to have children, but this doesn’t mean you can’t start a family. You may have talked for a long time about becoming foster parents or adopting a child. A criminal record could make this much more difficult. In Minnesota, certain convictions may disqualify you from fostering or becoming adoptive parents. An expungement could ensure that nothing gets in your way.
Mistakes of the past should not be held against you forever. If you are considering an expungement, it may benefit you to check out your legal options in more detail.