There's a notable difference in the view on punishment between Europe and the US. (Probably between common law and case law? I'm not really sure) Basically, ov

There's a notable difference in the view on punishment between Europe and the US. (Probably between common law and case law? I'm not really sure) Basically, over here, when you've done your time in jail, you're done. Your debt to society is paid. Your status as a regular citizen is restored. And as such, you have some sort of right to be forgotten, you shouldn't have to be treated as an ex-con for the rest of your life. In reality though, people do care about it, people are curious, people do treat ex-cons differently, there is a value attached to knowing if someone committed a crime or not. What these guys should have done is to ask to be removed quietly, and if it was denied, just forget about it and hope everyone else does it too. Bringing attention to it is the exact opposite of what they wanted.