Legal Question in Criminal Law in Wisconsin

Re: Retail Theft

Yes, this will be searchable through FBI and other governmental data archives and, depending on the municipality or county who issued the citation, it may be posted on the World Wide Web for all to see. What can be done about that? I'm afraid I don't know what can be done to keep it off your permanent record, except to maybe negotiate something else with the prosecution or, if you're not guilty of actually shoplifting (like the cop accused you of), then take it to trial. Winning at trial would result in an acquittal of the charge and no penalty being imposed, but the case would still remain a matter of public record. If you had been charged with misdemeanor theft, you could ask the judge to expunge it in this state. But it's not a misdemeanor, so now you have to live the rest of your hopefully long life with this being readily available to pretty much anyone who looks hard enough for it, should you decide to just go ahead and call it a day by sending in the fine and a guilty plea by mail. In any event, think twice about doing this sort of thing again in the future, Okay?