Citizens with Records are NOT Dishonest
I just read an article in the Free Lance-Star that didn’t sit well with me. It’s a puff piece for the newspaper and the Culpeper Commonwealth’s Attorney. Basically, a wrongfully-accused citizen just had a felony arrest expunged (completely erased) from the records.
That’s great! Expungement is a wonderful tool to remove old charges from the records, if those charges were dismissed.
Here’s what bothers me: the Commonwealth’s Attorney said, “If you’re an honest citizen, you shouldn’t have a record.”
That implies that people with records are DIShonest or liars.
What?!
I represent lots of honest, hard-working citizens who simply made a mistake. Even if you’re facing a DWI, that doesn’t make you a liar. It just means that you may have misjudged your alcohol intake. The same goes for reckless driving charges, driving on suspended, and even possession of marijuana.
There’s a difference between making a mistake and being dishonest. Good folks make mistakes occasionally. They pay the price and move forward with life. Making a mistake doesn’t mean you’re not an “honest citizen.”
A Commonwealth’s Attorney must understand this distinction. Yes, it’s her job to prosecute crimes for the Commonwealth. But there’s a BIG difference between saying “You broke the law” versus “You’re a dishonest person.”
photo credit: Johnny Vulkan
