Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

Arrest question

If you are arrested and charged with a crime, and the charge is later dismissed, why would an arrest record follow someone around? Doesn't that contradict ''the presumption of innocence''?


Asked on 6/02/07, 11:02 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: Arrest question

Although your question is not a "legal question" per se (it is a political one), the answer is simply this - the elected politicians and law enforcement authorities want to keep a record of who has been arrested and charged with an offense regardless of whetehr the case was dismissed or resulted in a Not Guilty verdict. You can always lobby to change the laws or support a candidate who will.

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Answered on 6/03/07, 6:10 pm


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