What is the benefit of having a conviction set aside? If the background check still shows the charges, fines, jail time, etc?

It means that you have done everything the court asked you to do when you were sentenced, and so the court is releasing you from the punishment of the conviction. You can show the order to a potential employer when you fill out your application so that they understand what it means. It's not the ideal solution, but it is better than having an employer draw their own conclusions from looking at your record.

There are times when the conviction, itself, prevents an employer from hiring you even though they want to hire you. Insurance or government regulation may prohibit hiring people with a certain conviction. If any answer on helps you, mine or someone else’s, please mark it as "helpful" or "best answer" to help know which answers to show others. Thank you. --- Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin http://addbalance.com --- Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/CriminalDefenseMadTown --- Talking to the Police - Advice from Lawyers and Police http://addbalance.com/police.htm --- Miranda Rights (and Wrongs) http://addbalance.com/miranda_rights.htm DISCLAIMER: Confidential information should not be disclosed in this Internet forum. I am an experienced Wisconsin criminal defense lawyer practicing in Madison (Dane County) Wisconsin. The laws in each jurisdiction can be very different. I cannot give legal advice over the Internet nor can I establish an attorney client relationship with you. You should NOT assume or otherwise conclude that there is an attorney -client relationship between any reader and this writer or his firm. These comments are only guideposts. They are not subject to any privilege protections. Indeed, these Internet communications are neither privileged nor confidential. Accordingly, those using this form of communication need to be guarded in what they write. Because of the nature of these communications the information is general only and should not be relied upon in any specific case. This Internet site is public forum, where the communications are not confidential or privileged. If something I say disagrees with what your own lawyer is telling you, you should rely on your lawyer who is familiar with you, your entire case, the local courts and practices. There may very well be merit to your defense or position in this type of situation. However, there are hardly sufficient details for an attorney to provide you with some path to follow. It is imperative that ALL of the facts in a particular situation be examined. No conclusion can be drawn from the communication that you have provided. Those facts should not be put on a public Internet site. Most questions are just better handled by an attorney familiar with the procedures of the courts in your area. Few, if any, legal matters should be handled via Internet communication. At best, the responders on this site can give you a few hints and guidance. To deal with a legal problem, nothing is better than to consult with a lawyer who will give you some time and advice. If you cannot afford an attorney, there should be agencies in your area that can provide discounted, or even free, legal services. This Answer is provided for general educational purposes only. See “more” link below for more.