What Can People See on Your Public Record?
If you’ve ever been arrested or charged with a crime, you’ve probably wondered what people can see about you or the incident.
In this article, we’ll share what people can see on a public record, where people can find public records, and how an expungement can erase your public record.
What Are Public Records?
A public record is the official documentation of facts about a person that the general public can access. The information on a public criminal record may include:
Defendant’s name, date of birth, and sometimes even their social security number
Identifying information about the defendant (gender, skin color, hair color, height, weight, etc.)
Arresting agency and officer
Defendant’s attorney
The criminal charge and/or citation number
Date of the incident
The disposition of the case (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, etc.)
The sentence (fine amount, restitution amount, jail time, etc.)
You can see an example of what a public record looks like here.
If you only have a speeding violation on your record, it probably won’t have a negative effect on your life.
How People Access Public Records
If a person has access to the internet, then they can search Oklahoma public record databases to find out about any arrests or criminal charges you may have on your record. In Oklahoma, criminal records are available to the public on the following websites:
On Demand Court Records (ODCR)
People can also order background checks from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) for a small fee.
OSCN and ODCR show records of anyone charged with a crime, whether it resulted in dismissal, deferral, or conviction. OSBI shares all of that information, plus all arrests, even if the prosecuting attorney decided not to file charges.
It’s very common for employers to run background checks on applicants, but even landlords may run a record search before renting to someone. Nosy neighbors and your girlfriend’s dad can also check up on you and find out about a mistake you made in the past.
How an Expungement Can Change Your Life
An expungement is a process that erases your public criminal record.
Full expungements wipe away the arrest record(s), criminal charge(s), and court disposition(s) for felonies or misdemeanors. Most incidents will most likely become eligible for an expungement at some point (though some will have to be pardoned before they’re eligible for an expungement), whether it resulted in a charge or not.
Once you receive a full expungement, all records of the incident on OSCN, OSBI, and ODCR will be erased from public view. That means that no one will be able to find the record of your arrest and it will no longer hold you back.
If an incident is not yet eligible for a full expungement because not enough time has passed since it happened (or various other factors), you may be eligible for a partial expungement if you received a deferred sentence. This is a temporary measure that can be very helpful until the incident is eligible for a full expungement.
With a partial expungement, the case disposition on your criminal record will say, “pled not guilty, case dismissed” on OSBI background checks. The charge will still appear on your record and show that you were arrested and charged, but it will not show that you pled guilty or no contest and received a deferred sentence. A partial expungement also takes the incident completely off of OSCN and ODCR. This initial step can have a huge impact on your ability to find a great job.
What Can People See on Private Background Databases?
Private background check agencies won’t know about your expungement unless you or your attorney notify them of it (at least not for a prolonged period of time after an expungement occurs).
If our clients know of a specific private background agency that has a record of theirs that has been successfully expunged, we will send a cease and desist letter to get it removed at no additional cost. We’ve successfully helped many clients remove their expunged records from private databases this way.
Taking these extra steps helps you get the full benefit of your expungement.
If you’re ready to create a new story for yourself, one where no one can look at you as a criminal, then get in touch with us today. The first step is to take our free Expungement Eligibility Quiz to see if you’re eligible for a full expungement. Just click below to get started.
