Q: 6 yr DWI charge and arrest that was later dropped is STILL haunting my employment prospects. WHEN will this go away?
6 years ago I was arrested and charged with a DWI; however, I refused to provide a breath sample and the video of my field sobriety test was lost, so my case was later dismissed, dropped, and I was not convicted. Despite having ZERO proof that I had consumed any alcohol that night, this arrest is still greatly effecting my career and I have been denied several employment opportunities because of this arrest (I am a social worker and work with children). How long will this continue to be an issue on my background check and is there anything I can do to resolve it?
A: It will never go away by itself because the arrest records are public. However, if all charges related to the arrest were dismissed more than two years ago, then you are probably eligible to file for an expunction. Consult a criminal defense attorney that works in the county where you were arrested. Be sure the person you hire has experience with expunctions because you only have one chance to do it correctly.
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