“It is called “Continued without a Finding”. It is a type of disposition that has to occur prior to trial. Occasionally it can happen after trial, but typically not, typically a trial is either guilty or not guilty.

What a Continuation without a Finding means is that an admission to sufficient facts that the event or the crime occurred. There can be conditions on a probation term. After a period of time, maybe 3 months or two years, a typical one might be 6 months. If the person stays out of trouble and what that means is not a civil infraction, such as a speeding ticket, but if they don’t get re-arrested or charged with a new crime; that the case can be “CWOF” and it will end up being dismissed at that period of time.

If somebody asks if you have been convicted of a crime, the answer can legitimately be No. However, a not “Guilty” or “Dismissal” is much better. A CWOF will show up on your record, people that are able to view your records such as police and the courts, if you Cori are accessible by employers and things of that nature, it still shows up as an admission.

Certain offenses, such as an OUI, even if you do a Continuation Without a Finding and the case gets dismissed eventually. If you get charged with a second offense it would be listed as a second offense and that is a lifetime lookback.

In addition, no one ever expects that they are going to get into trouble, but if you do get re-arrested; or you do not comply with the conditions of your probation you can be found in violation of the probation and your Continuation without a Finding can turn into a guilty and you can get sentenced to that as well without having the right to re-open and have a trial.