My question involves a background check in the State of: Massachusetts
About two and a half years ago, a friend of mine was issued a permanent restraining order for one year after the hearing of the case. Well, this order has expired (vacated) now for over a year. Back then, his attorney told him the following:
1. He was not charged, he was not arraigned and he was not convicted;
2. His CORI will not contain any record because CORIs contain only criminal records and records of conviction.
Now he is worried about the content of his CORI after reading that restraining orders always end up in the CORI. We are asking the following three questions:
1. Is it possible to be in court, before a judge and not have a prior charge? In other words, why was he in court if he was not charged? Well, he had an initial temporary restraining order before he appeared in court.
2. Is the judge not making a conviction by making the restraining order permanent for one year? At the hearing, he was not asked a single question, and the entire hearing lasted barely 3 minutes.
3. In truth, will his CORI show any records? ...and if it does, how is it likely influence/affect his job securing prospects considering that he wants to hold a teaching position in a university.
Thank you,
TroubledSoul.

