Will a Dismissed Case Show Up on My Record?
A plea in abeyance usually leads to the complete dismissal of the charges against you. However, that doesn’t mean court records, police reports, and prosecution records automatically disappear from government databases.
Criminal Record vs. Criminal Conviction
Employers typically request one of two types of background checks. Some only look for convictions, so if your case is dismissed after a plea in abeyance, it shouldn’t appear as a conviction. However, many employers also check for arrests and court cases.
If a background check includes arrests, jail bookings, or court filings, your dismissed case may still show up. While your formal criminal history report is private under Utah law, public record sources can still store and disclose information about your case. Even after dismissal, a plea held in abeyance might still appear on these background checks.
Expunging Your Record: Making It Disappear
To fully erase something from your criminal record, you need a formal expungement order from the court. Once the order is issued and sent to the relevant agencies, you can legally say the arrest, investigation, prosecution, and court case never happened.
Even if an employer finds old information in a private database, after expungement, you can obtain a certified copy of your Utah State criminal history report. If all charges are expunged, the report will simply state, “No Criminal History Found.”
Get Help with Expungement
Your attorney can advise you on when to start the expungement process. In some cases, you might be able to begin before your case is officially dismissed. Always consult your attorney to be sure.
Imagine being able to truthfully answer, “No,” when asked if you’ve ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime. It’s a great feeling to have a clean record. Contact us today to see how we can help you achieve that.