# A Clean Criminal Record **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-criminal-record/316694 "2005-08-12T05:43:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-criminal-record/316694/1 "2005-08-12T05:43:48Z")
On the American TV channel this morning is the story of an American kid who, at age thirteen, went and shot up his school. He was charged as a minor (Arkansas law) and will be released tomorrow (or something) after serving eight years. OK, that is the law. The commentator says the guy will have a ‘clean criminal record.’ What does that mean? If they guy wants to get a job, he will be able to say he has no arrests, no convictions. That seems reasonable, a second chance. But if a policeman pulls this guy over for speeding, will the police computer warn the officer that the occupant might be a killer? This seems like a practical matter of fact, but I could be wrong. What is the situation? ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-criminal-record/316694/2 "2005-08-12T06:02:03Z")
Probably that his records are “sealed”. I imagine it wouldn’t come up during a standard ID run. I think one can petition to have sealed records opened, though. If this individual commited another felony, I imagine his past would come back to haunt him. IANAL, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-criminal-record/316694/3 "2005-08-12T09:40:50Z")
That is even creepier than before then. A cop could make normal traffic stop and have no clue the guy in the car is a killer. Yikes!