The relevant concept in American law is whether or not you have a "Reasonable Expectation of Privacy". That is, whether or not a reasonably sensible person would expect that whatever they're doing stays private.
So if you're out walking or driving down the street, or in any other public place, you have no REP. It's public, anyone could recognize you and they're free to tell anyone they want. This is why cops/PIs don't need a warrant to follow you around when you're out & about, but do need a warrant to enter your house (where you do have REP). Similarly, trash you put out is no longer private (you left it at the curb, anyone is allowed to take your old bank statements just like your old couch).
So basically, unless you never go outside, never interact with the public in any way...basically live in a basement, burn your trash, have no phone or internet...no, you don't have a right not to be found, as long as the person looking for you doesn't violate any laws doing so.
In this specific case, court records are usually public record - there is no reasonable expectation, legally speaking, that anyone can't find out you were convicted for a crime, unless the judge sealed the records. Especially in this day and age of sex offender registries, the kid convicted of (statutory?) rape is right fucked. No REP for the rest of his life.
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The relevant concept in American law is whether or not you have a "Reasonable Expectation of Privacy". That is, whether or not a reasonably sensible person would expect that whatever they're doing stays private.
So if you're out walking or driving down the street, or in any other public place, you have no REP. It's public, anyone could recognize you and they're free to tell anyone they want. This is why cops/PIs don't need a warrant to follow you around when you're out & about, but do need a warrant to enter your house (where you do have REP). Similarly, trash you put out is no longer private (you left it at the curb, anyone is allowed to take your old bank statements just like your old couch).
So basically, unless you never go outside, never interact with the public in any way...basically live in a basement, burn your trash, have no phone or internet...no, you don't have a right not to be found, as long as the person looking for you doesn't violate any laws doing so.
In this specific case, court records are usually public record - there is no reasonable expectation, legally speaking, that anyone can't find out you were convicted for a crime, unless the judge sealed the records. Especially in this day and age of sex offender registries, the kid convicted of (statutory?) rape is right fucked. No REP for the rest of his life.
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