Misdemeanor arrest as a juvenile

pedi-RN · Apr 20, 2005

I don't know for sure what to advise you to do. The only thing I do know is this...

A few weeks ago we had a police officer come to our lecture class to finger print all of us for boards. We were filling out all of the paperwork, on which you have to disclose any criminal history. Someone asked a similar question about an event from their youth. The officer said all juvenile records are sealed and it won't show up.

That said, I think I would call your state BNE and ask.

Holli

Graduating May 7, 2005!

hikernurse · Apr 20, 2005

A lifetime ago I had a parking lot fight against 2 girls and I also threw a bottle at their car. I know, I know- dumb move. Long story short: I was later arrested and even though I didnt have a mug shot or fingerprints or handcuffs, I did sign papers, as did my poor mother and was told that I was being arrested but that it would be exponged when I turned 18.
Any suggestions on what to do about this? What if it still shows up on a background check? Im now in my late 30s and had totally forgotten about that stupid night in my youth, but now I'm afraid this skeleton will come out of my closet to haunt me! :uhoh21:
Please tell me what I should do!!
:sofahider
Anxiously awaiting your replies.......

Have you checked into getting it expunged? I'm not sure who does it, in our area it is done by the Bureau for Criminal Investigation (I think). It's easy to do, but I think you have to request it. My friend used to work there and they expunge juvenile things all the time--that way you can keep that skeleton in the closet where it belongs :). Sounds like you've given up your life of crime :chuckle.

Mandee25 · Apr 20, 2005

Our nursing department head has repeatedly told us to tell them everything we've done, except for speeding tickets. His theory is it's better to admit to something and they not be able to find it, then not fess up and it gets found.

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

We too got the lecture to disclose EVERYTHING criminal even if we were told that our records were expunged. (Because it may not have been). We are actually in the process of filling out our board paperwork also, and my friend has to get 3 letters of characters and submit her criminal records, including juvenile if she can get them, and explain each circumstance. She may have to provide some other things too, I am not sure since luckily I was able to check no to that question, but she definitely had to disclose everything and provide a personal narrative.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

http://www.utcourts.gov/howto/expunge/#Jrecord

This is a utah gov't site, but check it for out the process, forms on expunging a criminal record.

I agree with the others. If you're applying for nursing school, be honest and disclose anything that could come back to haunt you. You can expunge your criminal record and it won't show up on a background check, but you can't erase your history. Better to be open. It will look worse if it ever comes up and you are seen as being evasive.

Seeing that the crime was a misdemeanor committed as a juvenile, I don't beleive any nursing school would deny you based upon that alone! Good luck.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 21, 2005

If you were charged as a juvenile (not as an adult) in most states it is illegal to disclose that information to ANYONE after you become an adult and in most states that information is automatically expunged and your juvenile record is sealed after your 18th birthday.

With that being said, I would double check to ensure that it was taken care of. You can go to your local police department, pay $5 or so and be fingerprinted and have the results mailed to your home. You'll know within a month or so if the record was expunged. If it wasn't I would do some checking as to why.

You are not required to disclose any crime you comitted as a juvenile as long as you were charged as a juvenile but be careful of that though because you can in some states be 16 or 17 and be charged as an adult, even though you are still a juvenile and I have seen situations in which people have been charged as an adult, plead down to being a juvenile crime but because they were fingerprinted and originally charged as an adult, it didn't get sealed properly when they turned 18.

If you aren't sure contact the BON for your state or just go ahead and disclose it all :-)

Good luck!!!

anonymouse · Apr 22, 2005

Thanks for the replies. I know someone who works for the court-in another county- that I am going to talk to about this, maybe she can look it up. The cop told me at the time that when I turned 18 the record would be sealed and that I would be able to answer 'no' when asked if I had ever been arrested- I specifically remember him saying that, but I still want to look into this while I have time. Im in Florida if anyone has any pointers for this state.

thanks a billion

biscuitnic · Apr 22, 2005

anyone know what the procedure is if you had a speeding ticket go to warrant? i've never had more than a speeding ticket, but two of them did go to warrant briefly when i was in my way broke stage in college.

i'm guessing we disclose? or does it fall under the "speeding ticket" heading?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2005

Although i dont know that not reporting is the best idea, i dont think juvenile records would be accessable on a backround check unless it was a Class X felony. You could call your states attorney and ask about whether juvenile records ar sealsed i guess.