Is Probation before Judgement Public Record?
Full Question:
Answer:
A probation before judgment (PBJ) is typically not considered a conviction as long as the person fulfills the terms of the probation. Therefore, a person may truthfuly say no if asked on an employment application whether he has ever been convicted of a crime. However, a potential employer may ask on an employment application whether the applicant has received a PBJ. A potential employer may even deny employment based on a record of an arrest for which the person was found innocent or the charges were dismissed.
The information regarding the sentence of PBJ generally isn't prohibited from being disclosed unless the record has been sealed or expunged. A person seeking expungement of a criminal record needs to follow the expungement procedures of the state in which the sentencing for the offense occurred.