Walk It Through: The Old Shoplifting Charge
A misdemeanor from years ago, five clean years, fines paid, and a motion to expunge.
A nursing student has one shoplifting conviction from college and a background check coming up.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A first conviction for a minor offense. Sealing after a dismissal, juvenile records and marijuana record expungement are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Crime of violenceA conviction in Rhode Island or elsewhere that bars a person from buying, owning, carrying or possessing any firearm, on pain of two to ten years.
- Domestic abuseCausing or attempting physical harm, placing someone in fear of serious harm, or forced sexual relations, between family members or certain dating partners.
- ExpungementA court order clearing a conviction from the record, for a first offender after five clean years for a misdemeanor or ten for a felony.
- FelonyAn offense that may be punished by more than one year, or a fine of more than $1,000, unless a statute says otherwise.
- First offenderA person who may move to expunge a conviction, once all court fines and costs are paid or waived.
- MisdemeanorAn offense punishable by not more than one year, or not more than $1,000, or both.
- Waiting periodSeven consecutive days of unemployment before benefits are payable, once in a benefit year.