Previous convictions are entries on a criminal record indicating past felonies. Records can be sealed or expunged, but typically remain available to specific circumstances. Convictions detail charges, outcomes, and sentences, and can affect job opportunities and sentencing. Disclosure of previous convictions is often required when applying for a job.
Previous convictions are entries on a person’s criminal record that indicate that the person has been convicted of felonies previously. These entries note the details associated with each conviction to provide context and additional information. If someone is wrongfully convicted, documentation can be filed to remove these entries from the criminal record. If not, they will remain dormant and information about them is available to any person or agency seeking an individual’s criminal record.
Typically, if people have previous convictions before they came of age, their records will be sealed to make information about those convictions unavailable. In some cases the record is actively expunged, removing all traces of convictions as if they never happened. Most commonly, access to the record is simply limited to specific circumstances, limiting who can see previous convictions.
Previous conviction information will detail the charges, the outcome of the case, and the sentence. The name of the court and judge will be provided so people can look at the court records if they are interested, and previous convictions will also have notes indicating whether they were earlier or later convictions. The criminal record will also report the level of the justice system involved, differentiating between federal crimes and crimes tried in lesser jurisdictions.
Previous convictions may sometimes be brought up during a court proceeding for unrelated charges. If a lawyer can argue that the convictions are relevant to the case, they can be argued in court. For example, if someone is in court on charges of domestic violence, it may be important for the judge and jury to be informed of previous domestic violence convictions. In other cases, information about previous convictions is explicitly withheld by the court due to fears that it may be prejudicial.
A history of criminal convictions can become a significant obstacle. Some types of jobs exclude people with a criminal record out of concern that they may pose a safety risk or poor suitability for the work environment. Likewise, previous convictions can be evaluated in the sentencing process. Someone with a repeat criminal history is more likely to be heavily penalized, and in some cases, sentencing guidelines specifically outline harsher penalties for people with previous convictions.
When applying for a job, people are usually asked to disclose any previous convictions. This provides an opportunity for people to clarify situations if they think there is something about a belief that an employer needs to know.
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