People in Wisconsin often worry about the effects of having drug charges on their records, as being convicted of a crime can have catastrophic consequences even after their sentence is complete. A criminal record can affect your ability to find work or housing or to pursue educational opportunities. What you may not realize is that, even if a prosecutor or judge dismisses your drug charges, the authorities maintain a record of your arrest, and these records are public.
Sealing Your Record From Public View
The good news is that you can take steps to shield some or all of the records of your arrest. Sealing a record hides it from public view, but certain employers and law enforcement agencies can still access it. To seal your arrest record, you must file a motion with the courts specifying whether you want the entire document hidden or certain information redacted. You must serve this motion to all the parties involved in your case, and the courts will decide whether a hearing is necessary before ruling on the motion. If the courts rule in your favor, your arrest record will be blocked from public access.
Wisconsin law also allows you to remove your arrest fingerprint card from the state’s criminal history database if your drug charges were dismissed. You can submit a Fingerprint Record Removal Request (Form DJ-LE-250B) to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, along with any supporting documents, to have the arrest information removed from your record.
The Wisconsin drug crimes defense attorneys at J. Kippa Law Office can help you seal or remove your arrest records to keep the public from prying into your private business. Our team can handle the necessary paperwork and court motions to seal or remove your arrest records and represent you in any required hearings. We believe dismissed drug charges shouldn’t impact you for the rest of your life, and we’re here to protect your reputation and future opportunities. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
