Finding of Factual Innocence and Affect on Employment
However, just because the process ended with a not guilty finding (or did not even get that far) does not mean that everything is back to normal. There is always a chance that someone, such as a prospective employer doing a criminal background check, will discover the arrest, and somehow believe that somehow, the accused “got away with it.” (i.e. prosecutorial incompetence, an all too convenient mistrial, etc.). Granted, one can always explain that they were found not guilty, but such a belief can have significant repercussions: an automatic rejection when applying for job, a lost promotion, the potential social stigma, and so on. But in the states where a finding of factual innocence is available, it can used to seal a person’s criminal record and shield it from prying eyes.
Source:
http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com...-innocence.htm