expungement of misdemeanor convictions
Misdemeanor convictions can be expunged.
Under Wisconsin law, so long as the convicted defendant was 25 years of age or younger at the time of the commission of the offense, and completed all requirements of the sentence without committing any other crimes and without any other charges pending, a person MAY be able to have the criminal misdemeanor conviction expunged from his or her record provided the court also determines that such Expungement would pose no threat or harm to society and the person requesting the Expungement would benefit.
What is a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor is a criminal charge for which - generally speaking - the punishment is less than one year in jail. Misdemeanor offenses are a lessor offense than a felony, but they are not without penalties, some of which can have very devastating effects on a person's life including the inability to obtain certain jobs, the inability to qualify for bonding, or the inability to receive governmental aid such as school loans.
classifications of misdemeanor offenses
Under Wisconsin law, misdemeanors are classified according to their severity. Each misdemeanor classification provides recommendations for jail sentences and forfeitures (fines). A person convicted of a misdemeanor can be incarcerated into a county or local jail, ordered to pay a fine, or both. If a person is a repeat offender, the punishment becomes more severe. Additional penalties may also apply. See Misdemeanor Classifications
Misdemeanor Imprisonment
Felonies and misdemeanors are considered criminal charges, but with one major distinction: length of imprisonment.
A person convicted of a felony will be imprisoned in a state (or federal) prison for a period of one or more years. A person convicted of a Misdemeanor will serve jail time in a county or municipal jail for a period of less than one year (excluding bad behavior and other additional punishments).
Probation & Additional Penalties
In addition to the above penalties, a court can order a person to serve a term of probation, or an entire list of “conditions” or rules the accused must abide by while on probation.
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