Function

• A withheld judgment serves the purpose of allowing a defendant an opportunity to complete probation or other outlined conditions by a judge in place of a conviction or judgment. The terms and conditions of the withheld judgment vary from court to court.
  
  

Benefits

• Receiving a withheld judgment may result in the outcome of a clean record if the defendant successfully meets the judge's conditions. In some cases, the defendant's record may be available to law enforcement and will show prior charges, however the general public would not have access to the record.
  
  

Warning

• If a defendant does not meet the probation or condition requirements, a judgment will be issued which remains on public and private records. If the defendant meets the conditions of their withheld judgment, certain restrictions may still apply, such as: passing security clearance for a federal job, obtaining a firearm,or citation as a multiple offender if arrested for the same crime.