Once we trip, especially in the computer age, even with the new definition of 'sealed records', it can be difficult to gain a fresh start.Watched "Lock Up" with mom after dinner last night. Documentary show about people in prison. Been to jail/court few times back when I was younger, I have an idea how bad it sucks for people in prison and jail. I think these shows helped me not shoplift or commit any other non-marijuana crimes. I have been on my toes since I was sent to Youth Forestry Camp run by DYS in Brewster, MA at 15. If you don't do a good job you get sent to DYS custody. 1 poor dude didn't make it and flipped out and cried. I graduated and was then done with juvenile probation and suspended sentences. Eventually had my juvenile record sealed. Have to do the same with my adult record.
Youth Forestry Camp man...shit was tough and I was the only white dude but we did it.
Those of us who fucked up or got snared decades ago, before the interwebs, have advantages that today's youngsters and young adults can't as readily take advantage of.
And once that LE offender's stick-em label's on your forehead, you can find yourself a target for unwanted attention sometimes, no matter how clean a person has tried to maintain being.
It can be a challenge in those regards.
I was fortunate to do my errors and getting snagged long before LEO was tied into anything more advanced than maybe a teletype, but even then, doing political battle with them at a young age led to winning battles while preparing to lose the war.
I left that region at a young age (16) when it became clear that the more I beat them in those battles, the more they would work to seriously slam-dunk me later on.
After that departure and all of its adventures, despite many close calls, I never got popped again, and that opened up advantages and opportunities for me that probably can't be found today.
But distancing yourself from those who will likely always see that label on your forehead can go a long way toward finding a new path, even in the Orwellian computer age.
Glad you're staying clear of unwanted interactions with them, and working toward having the more troublesome parts of the past sealed.