3 ms·
Was just wondering... I've heard of some cases where a felony conviction can be expunged after a few years (seven I think) -- wasn't that the case with Randal S
by derekp7 14y ago
Was just wondering... I've heard of some cases where a felony conviction can be expunged after a few years (seven I think) -- wasn't that the case with Randal Schwartz? Would that option have been available to Aaron? Because from what I've read, the thing bothering him the most wasn't the jail time (the smaller sentence offered in the plea bargain), but being labeled a felon for the rest of his life. Would he have been as distraught if the expungement option was available?
- mpyne 14y agoThere's all sorts of different scenarios, including expungment (which is indeed what Randal accomplished): * Expungment: The records are sealed. It's (mostly) as if the conviction never occurred, since there's no way for people to access the proof that a conviction was returned. But this is a legal construct that only applies in the legal world, they can't go back and erase the newspapers. * Pardon: You did it, but we just won't punish you for it. But the only one we can ask would be Aaron, unfortunately. For what it's worth what "felon" means is entirely up to the state you live in, the people you talk to, etc. I worked with a "felon" (and I'm using this term very loosely here) who had a clearance higher than mine, actually did the kind of jobs where they can't talk at all about it, was able to vote, use banks, etc. No one thought of him as anything less than a valued shipmate, but of course that's just my personal perspective.