Fair or not, your public legal record can have a profound effect on the way you are perceived by potential employers, landlords, and school officials. Therefore it is very important to keep your record as close to spotless as possible. And if you have received a conviction for driving while intoxicated, it is possible that anyone conducting a background check could find out about it.
As we discussed in a previous post, in Louisiana it is sometimes possible to have a DWI or DUI conviction expunged. But what does it really mean to have something expunged from your record?
Well, understand that both arrests and convictions can go on your record. This means that even if you are not found guilty of an offense, you still bear the blemish of having been arrested. But if the court agrees to your request of having an arrest or conviction expunged, then the expunged item is no longer part of your record that is accessible by most of the public.
This means that if you apply for a job, you do not have to disclose any information about the issue that was expunged. Nor do you have to fear that the employer will discover it later when looking into your background.
One bad moment should not define your character for the rest of your life. If you have a DWI arrest or conviction on your record that you don’t want others to see, you may want to look into having it expunged.
As such, you may want to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can look over your record and advise you on whether you would be eligible to receive an expungement. If so, the attorney could act on your behalf to expedite the process.